Top Questions To Ask When Hiring A Real Estate Agent

Of course, I believe I am the best real estate agent in the area 😊 and working with me will get you the most money possible for your house sale.  But, for those of you that likes to interview more than one person I want to make sure you are educated on what to ask.  And since I only take on a certain number of clients each year, I may be unable to work with you in the timeframe you are looking for.  So, I wanted to write this article on what you should look for when hiring an agent.   

I cannot stress enough how important it is to hire a qualified agent when buying or selling a home.  This is your most important financial transaction of your life (or at least right now).  A qualified agent will make ALL the difference in getting the best price and the smoothest transaction possible.

According to HomeLight’s data, the top 5% of real estate agents across the U.S. sell homes for as much as 10% more than the average real estate agent.  And Real Estate falls into the 80/20 rule like many industries.  80% of homes are sold by 20% of the agents.  Many agents sell very few if any houses each year.  This is an industry where experience matters.  Every house is different and the only way your agent can help you effectively is with the experience needed to know everything there is to know about houses.

There are over 1.5 million Realtors in the U.S. with Massachusetts latest list sent to me by the Division of Occupational Licenses as just under 70,000 Brokers and Salespersons licensed in our state.  This can make it impossible and overwhelming to choose the right agent.  picking the right agent can feel, well, overwhelming.   Many people just choose a friend or someone they were referred to without knowing what to look for.

Here are some helpful tips on what to look for when choosing the right agent for you.

1.     What are your credentials?  Is your agent full time or part time?  How long have they been selling real estate?  Make sure you are hiring a full-time agent who is available for phone calls and showings 7 days a week.  You do not want to limit the availability of the buyer or buyer’s agent getting into the house or getting questions answered in a timely manner.  You want to make sure they will have the schedule and time needed to focus on finding you the best buyer for your home.  Look them up online.  Check out their website, their Facebook and other social media pages.  See how professional they appear online and if they market themselves well.  If an agent cannot market themselves, how will they market your house?  Check their Zillow and Realtor.com reviews to see what clients say about working with them.

2.     How many sales did you close last year?  According to the National Association of Realtors the median number of houses sold for agents last year was 10 homes.  Many agents do this job as a second income or part time.  Choosing a full-time agent that sells over 20 houses a year is important.  Every transaction is different and a more experienced agent will have tackled more problems and know how to avoid them.  Do you know anyone who has worked with them in the past?  Were they happy with the agent’s performance?  Was that agent easy to reach when you call?

3.     Are you an expert in this area?  A local expert is important.  Knowing the secret spots in town, knowing the access to internet, local amenities, where to shop, benefits of living in your community are all important things.  I can’t tell you how many times I have sold a house because I was also able to show the benefits of living in our community.  A local agent is key to knowing not only how to market the house but also sell the benefits of the town and community.  They also usually have local resources you might need if a problem arises at the home inspection.

4.     The listing price.  Ask the agent you are meeting with how they came up with their suggest listing price and why they think that is the perfect number.  Don’t just go with the agent who proposes the highest number.  They might be trying to give you a higher number to get the listing and then ask for a price reduction later.  This could actually hurt you more that you think.  Pricing the house correctly from the start will get you the most money.  It is ok to challenge the agent you are interviewing.  Make them prove to you why their list price is the best one for your home, neighborhood, upgrades and the timing you are choosing to list.

5.     Who will you be working with?  Does the agent have a team?  Do they pass you off to a transaction coordinator to handle the paperwork?  Are you going to be working directly with the agent you are meeting with or will they disappear after you sign the contact and you will be working with someone you haven’t met before?  Will you be the agent representing my house at the open house?  Many companies use new agents to work at open houses.  Check to see if your agent will be there to answer questions!  This is where full time agents are important again, you want your agent… the one who knows the most about your property representing the house and answering the calls.  If they are part time, is there going to be anyone answering the phone or will buyers need to wait until you finish your day job to call them back.   They might lose interest if they wait too long.

6.     What does it cost to sell my home?  There are expenses to selling your home.  Your agent should be able to review these expenses with you prior to listing so you know how much money you will walk away with after you receive an offer.

7.     What is your marketing and sale plan?  Are they going to use a professional photographer or take photos with their phone?  Do they do internet marketing?  Will they do internet paid ads or just posting on their own social media?  Do they do any newspaper ads or direct marketing?  If so, where and how many?  Make sure the agent has a marketing plan and isn’t just listing it in the MLS and waiting for phone calls.  Also, make sure they are targeting the right demographic for your home.  Targeting the right people with the marketing is extremely important.  It is a waste of time and money to advertise to the wrong demographic of potential buyers. `

8.     What should I do to get my house ready?  Agents know what buyers are looking for.  I work with buyers every day and hear what they want to see.   Your agent should be able to give you tips to making your house appeal to the buyers that are looking in the area.  There might be little things you could do prior to listing that will help sell your property.

9.     How do you communicate?  Are they going to call, text or email you?  What times of day are they available (especially important if they have another job)? 

10.  How long will it take to sell my property?  Find an agent who has a clear strategy for listing in a specific time period, a marketing plan, showing schedule and a clear plan for how long they expect before your house is under agreement and then sold.  You need to review the plan with your agent and make sure the timing works for you.

I have found many homeowners don’t know what to ask so they just go along with whatever the Real Estate Agent says.  Knowing what to ask could help you make the best decision on which agent is best for you.  Interviewing more than one agent can be extremely helpful.  Every agent has different strengths, find the one you think will do the best job and sell your house for the most money possible.  Watch out for agents that can’t answer the questions confidently.  A good again will know the answers to your questions without hesitation.  They will be transparent and realistic, offering professional advice on the best way to achieve your goals.  If it doesn’t feel right, it probably will not get better.  Trust your gut!  Don’t choose the agent you want to be friend with, choose the agent that you think can get the job done.   Too many people tell me they chose her/him because they were “nice” and then were disappointed they could not deliver on what they promised.

I could obviously go on and on with more tips but I am running out of room in this issue.  Feel free to email me with any questions at kpackardrealtor@gmail.com.  Even if you do not hire me, I am always trying to make sure people have the best real estate experience possible. 

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