Selling

Hiring an Agent to Sell Your Home? Ask These 5 Questions.

Share This Post:

Your home is your biggest investment, and you shouldn’t trust just anyone to help you cash in on it. To get the most out of your sale, hiring an agent with the right knowledge, skills, and experience is key. While a quick google search will turn up plenty of local professionals, some are better equipped to serve your needs than others. Asking the right questions will help ensure that you find the right person for the job.

Here are five questions you should ask when you’re looking for an agent to help you sell your home…

1) How many homes have you sold in the last year?

Your agent’s approach matters, but an impressive track record should count for something, too. The truth is, some real estate professionals can go an entire year without selling a single home. Others might sell one or two. That’s why it’s a good idea to ask any agent you’re thinking of working with, point-blank, how many properties they sold the previous year. Ideally, it should be more than just a small handful. You want someone with plenty of recent experience—and someone who can get the job done!

2) What’s your pricing strategy?

Overprice your property, and it may be left sitting on the market. Underprice it, and you’ll sell it for less than it’s worth. That’s why it’s so important to work with an agent who offers proven pricing strategies. The professional you choose should be able to put together a top-notch comparative market analysis. This crucial document will tell you how much money homes similar to yours have recently sold for in your area. Your agent’s recommendations should be based on this analysis—along with your goals, market trends, and a thorough knowledge of the way buyers think.

3) Do you offer staging and photography?

If you’re hoping for a quick and profitable sale, your home has to look its best. A tasteful staging job and can ensure that your property shines, while professional photography will make your listing stand out from the crowd. If your agent doesn’t provide these services, finding them elsewhere could be both costly and time-consuming. If they do, you want to verify the quality of what they’re offering. Your best bet is to ask if you can see some before-and-after photos.

4) Can I review some past marketing materials?

While high-quality images are crucial when you’re selling, they’re not enough to tell the full story of your home. That’s where marketing materials come in. From flyers to postcards to yard signs, using informative, beautifully-designed pieces to promote your home is bound to bring more buyers through the door. Before you commit to working with an agent, ask to see some materials they’ve used in the past. Do they look polished and professional? If you were a buyer, would they tell you everything you need to know?

5) What will you do to help ensure a successful sale?

Selling a home isn’t just about choosing the right pricing strategy or marketing materials. It’s a process with many steps that must be carefully coordinated. That’s why the agent you wind up working with should walk you through your upcoming transaction, from beginning to end. They should be able to explain how they’ll make your sale a smooth one, and tell you where they’ll add value that other professionals won’t. Put simply: don’t be afraid to ask an agent how they’ll ensure your success!

Ready to sell your home? We’d love to walk you though the process! Get in touch with us to get started.