From a new job to a newborn, there may be several potential drivers behind your decision to sell and seek out that new home of your dreams. And while it can certainly be a time full of excitement, the change can also result in its fair share of stress and worry. Luckily, having the right real estate agent by your side throughout the process is a surefire way to curb anxieties from the get-go.
With all of the realtor options available, how do you even begin to decide upon the right real estate agent for you? Conducting interviews with relevant candidates in the area is a great place to start. Here are nine questions to ask your real estate agent when listing your home.
What’s Your Experience When It Comes To Listing Homes?
Representing a buyer versus a seller certainly falls within the same wheelhouse, but there are differences in approach when it comes to finding success with each. Because of this, it’s important to gauge any potential agent’s experience for each. This is not to say that more experience in one over the other should be the sole driver of your decision, but having someone who can thoroughly speak to the process from experience has its advantages.
How Do You Determine My Listing Price?
A good agent will be able to walk you through their thought process when it comes to the listing price of your home. Price it too high, and you risk turning off potential buyers. Price it too low, and that’s less money in your pocket. Since listing price will be heavily influenced by the state of the market, you’ll want an agent with a good grasp on how it impacts your bottom line.
Do You Work With Buyers In The Same Range As My Listing Price Point?
The answer to this question may be a good indicator of how knowledgeable an agent is about your potential buyers. In turn, this will influence how they market to them and eventually approach negotiations.
Are You Familiar With This Community?
Working with a real estate agent who’s familiar with your particular neighborhood can be an advantage when it comes to your home’s marketability. When building out your listing, they’ll be better equipped to develop relevant local messaging and comment on schools, new developments, and any other areas of community interest surrounding your home.
How Do You Plan To Market My Home?
A home for sale without any kind of marketing plan behind it certainly has an uphill battle ahead. From the right staging and quality photography to online virtual tours, there are several ways to enhance the online presence of your listing to extend its reach beyond just those who may see that ‘For Sale’ sign in the yard.
How Do You Track Online Activity For Listings?
Traffic to your online listing will inevitably ebb and flow depending on both the market and marketability of your home. Most of that traffic will flow in during those initial weeks, but it’s important to keep tabs on how it may fluctuate throughout. This will allow you to make smarter decisions as a seller from beginning to end.
How Should I Get My House Ready?
If your real estate agent has had experience selling homes in the past, they should have a solid list of to-dos for you to follow when preparing your house for the market. They’ll also likely be able to help organize and/or provide references for relevant expertise in home staging and contracting.
Getting your home ready to sell is as much about the positioning of your furniture as it is about having the right real estate agent to represent you. Put your trust in someone who knows the industry inside and out. Contact our team at Janet McAfee for more tips on how to list your home to sell.