- Do you work full time as a real estate agent? How long have you been working full time in this field? What professional associations do you have? By asking if they’re working full time allows you to determine how commited you can expect them to be in your transactions. The length of time they’ve spent on this field can give you confidence knowing that they know what they’re doing, but it is not guaranteed. And tenure does not guarantee a good service.
- Do you have an a staff or assistant? Or a team that can take care of the various parts of the process? What are their roles in the transaction? What are their names and contact information? Brokers usually work with other people to carry out all the necessary work and achieve a succesful transaction. The more clients they have, the more staff they’ll need to have. It’s okay to ask if you want to find out who are the people wotking with them and what their roles are. You could also ask questions like: To whom will I give the payment? Who will be there in closing?
- Do you have a website where properties for sale are listed? Can i have the web address? Does it have a hotline or customer service email? Who responds to them and how quickly are they handled? Being online does a lot to marketing. Most people turn to their internet when they look for something. It can give them a lot of information in their convenience. Try searching for your agent’s website and see how visible they are online.
- How often will you contact me? How will you contact me? Establish a communication system with your agent so you will have an idea on how often to expect to hear from them. And ask how they will contact you – by your home phone? mobile? email? So you can be ready for them.
- What sets you apart from other realtors? Is there something you do that other agents don’t that can give me the best deal for my home? Sometimes the key to selling a home in a short time is dependent on your agent’s research, marketing skills and delivery.
- Can you give me names of past clients? Selecting an agent is like hiring an employee. Asking about them from references can give you an idea of how they are in their profession.
- Do you have a performance guarantee? Can I terminate our listing agreement if I am not satisfied with your service? It can be difficult for an agent to offer a performance guarantee. But this does not mean they are not capable of providing a high quality service. The agent should however be able to tell you what you could expect from them.
- How will you get paid? How are your fees calculated? Can I have this in writing? In most cases, the seller has the responsibility of paying agent commissions. There may be other small fees, such as administrative or special service fees, that are charged to clients, regardless if they are the buyer or seller. Before you hire an agent, ask for an estimate of costs.
- How will you develop pricing strategies for our home? The price of a house is one of the major factors in selling it quickly. Current property information is important. Ask your realtor how they made the market analysis, and if they included For Sale by Owner homes, foreclosed homes and bank-owned sales in that list.
- In terms of advetising and marketing, what do you plan to do to sell my home? Who determines where and when my home is marketed? Who will pay for advertising? Ask your agent for a clear plan on how money for marketing and advertising will be spent. Ask for samples or case studies of the types of marketing strategies that your agent has in mind (such as Internet Websites, print magazines, open houses, and local publications).
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