If you’re getting ready to sell your home, then you’ll want to make sure you’re working with a listing agent who can not only successfully sell your home, but who can sell it in a timely manner and for a great price.
If you’ve read about these 5 things you should be selective about in a realtor, then you already have a great foundation as to what to search for in an agent. However, selling your home calls for an agent with a unique set of specialized skills to get the job done right.
6 Questions to Ask When Interviewing A Listing Agent
- What is your plan to market my home?
Agents should be able to present you with an in-depth plan as to how they plan on marketing your home. From stunning professional staging and photography to open houses and ad placement in all of the right places, an agent should know exactly how to show off your home. In addition to print materials, how will you home be marketed online? What is the agent’s online presence like? Do they have an up-to-date, modern website that they use to feature listings on? Will you home have its own website? What is their social media presence like? How do they respond to comments and engage with people?
Regarding all of these things, you don’t have to just take their word for it. Ask to see examples of print materials, and research them online—you can see for yourself if their marketing materials are up to par! (For even more details, click here for an example of exactly what their marketing plan should include.)
- What are the outcomes of your previous listings?
An agent’s marketing might be amazing, but you really want to know what the outcome of their listings have been. How many homes have they sold this year, and in the past year? What were the list prices vs. sold prices of each home? How many days did each home spend on the market, and how does all of this compare to other homes in the neighbourhood?
- How much would you list my home for, and why?
The “why” is the most revealing part of this question. Pricing a home right straight out of the gate is key, and hear about why an agent would list your home for a given price will be revealing of their market knowledge and strategy.
- Are there scenarios where your sellers have received multiple offers, and if so, how did you help them choose the best offer?
If you’re listing a home in a competitive market, then you may be dealing with a multiple offer situation. And in this case, the highest offer is not always the best offer. How has the agent handled these situations in the past? How will an agent help you determine what the best offer is? Multiple offer situations are not always cut and dry, and hearing their reasoning and about past experiences will shed light on their expertise.
- What do each of our responsibilities throughout the selling process include?
As a seller, what are your responsibilities? What will the real estate agent take care of? For example, are you in charge of staging your home, or will you be splitting the cost with your agent? It’s important to have a clear sense of exactly what your duties are and what you can expect from your realtor.
- What changes do you recommend I make to my home before selling?
A realtor should be able to identify improvements you should make to your home in order to sell it, and sell it for more. What do buyers in your price range and neighbourhood expect and want? What can you do to stand out in your market? The agent should be able to guide you and make suggestions, in addition to providing you a list with preferred professionals to work with, whether you need your hardwoods refinished or a new roof!
Looking for more pro tips for sellers? Click here to explore our top-notch resources for sellers!
