6 Questions to Ask Prospective Agents

Not sure how to select a real estate agent to sell your home? The following questions are helpful to ask potential agents in advance of selecting someone to work with: 

Are you a full-time professional real estate agent?

How long have you worked full-time in real estate? How long have you represented buyers and sellers? What professional designations do you have?

Knowing whether your agent practices full-time can help you determine potential scheduling conflicts and his or her commitment to your transaction. Although years of experience and professional designations do not equate to the level of service you will receive, it’s a good starting point for your discussion to get to know prospective agents.

Do you have a personal assistant, team, or staff to handle different parts of the purchase? What does each person do and how do I communicate with them?

It’s not uncommon that the more business a real estate agent does, that he or she might have a team to help support him or her. If your agent has a team, you might consider asking for their names, their roles, and their contact information. 

How will you keep in contact with me during the selling process and how often?

Every agent has a different communication style, however, it’s important for you to understand how and when they will communicate with you regarding important requests and updates such as showings, open houses, buyer feedback, and offers.

What do you do that other agents don’t that ensures top dollar for my home? What is the average time that it takes you to sell a home vs. other agents in the same market?

Marketing skills are learned and sometimes agents have unique skills that help them sell homes quickly. Talk to prospective agents about what sets them apart from others.

How will you get paid? How are your fees structured?

Talk to your agent about his or her commission and if there are any other fees that are charged to clients. Be aware of the big picture and ask the agent for an estimate of costs before signing any agreements.

How will you develop pricing strategies for my home?

In addition to location, price is the primary factor in determining if a home will sell quickly or at all. Be sure to ask your agent how they created the market analysis for your help and whether your agent included For Sale by Owner homes, foreclosed homes, and bank-owned sales in the analysis. 

Need help? We’d love to talk to you. Connect with Atherton Real Estate Group today!