Real Estate Blog

In a previous article, I have talked about interviewing a realtor and the questions a customer should ask before choosing a real estate agent. Today, I am going to cover the issue that most of the people are having when trying to sell their house: hiring the perfect real estate agent.

Here are some good questions that you should ask all the real estate agents when interviewing them.

1. What is your commission? ( This is probably the most important question)

A very important factor in choosing a real estate agent is the commission that he/she will take from the sale. Most of the time, the commission falls between 5-6% but remember, this is negotiable and you can always try to get it lowered.

2. What’s your sales volume for this year and last year?

This is also important to know because it could tell you how successful and how good of a marketer the realtor is. Remember that even if he/she sold properties with a total amount over 3-4mil, there is a possibility that the realtor did not sell other listings that could have been worth 6 mil or more. Find out why did he have a hard time selling those and ask for specifics.

3. How is my property going to be advertised?

A good brokerage will advertise your property not just on MLS( Multiple Listing Services) but also newspapers, neighborhood postcards, full size brochures. Also, the property should be listed on their own website as well, and if the agents is part of a team, all the team members should advertise that property on their websites. Open houses are a must and the realtor should host them at least 2 times a month. Many large brokerages with good marketing programs will use mass mailings or emails to attract more traffic to your property and increase the number of showings.

4. Are the photos and virtual tour going to be taken by a professional service?

Some real estate agents rely on their video or photo cameras to take pictures of the property, but the really good real estate agents will hire a professional photographer that will handle the photo marketing area. These people have the right tools and knowledge to bring the best out of your property.

5. Can I see the Comparative Market Analysis?

A CMA, Comparative Market Analysis is basically a report that shows what similar homes in your area have sold for. Ask the real estate agent if they will provide this analysis to you since you might want to check if your house is really worth what they thing it’s worth. Remember, a real estate agent wants to sell a house at a higher price so the commission increases. Bottom line: find out if the price is right.

6.  How easily can I reach you?

A good real estate agent should be available 24/7 and even if they don’t pick up the call at odd hours, the option of leaving a voicemail should be given. Always ask for their cell phone numbers since the chances they will get your message faster are higher. Another good thing to know is who will take of the listing in case of an emergency or a planned vacation. A reliable real estate agent should have someone take his or her place while away and handle business as usual.

7. Are you going to be at our closing or someone else will replace you?

ALWAYS, your real estate agent should be present at the closing. Unless it’s a matter of life and death, a good real estate agent should be always present at your property closing in order to make sure that everything goes smoothly.

8. Can I get at least two referrals of people that have sold their properties with you?

You might not actually go ahead and call these people, but it’s good to see what the real estate agent’s reaction is. If he/she was honest throughout the whole interview then he/she should have no problem giving you the names of some satisfied clients.

I hope these tips help and good luck to you.