13 Questions to Ask an Agent

WARNING!!!
Do not sign a listing with an agent until you know...
The 13 questions to ask before listing.

The decision to sell your home is a big one. Once you've decided to sell, you are confronted with a whole list of choices. The first question is whether to sell your home yourself or list your home with an agent.

There are experts in every profession, (some are better than others), nevertheless, when it comes down to selling your home you want an expert. If you're a Real Estate agent or broker, of course you don't need an agent to sell your home. But if your not an agent you may not have the time, experience or expertise to handle the transaction yourself, so you'll want to hire an agent. After all, nearly 90% of all homes are sold by Real Estate agents!

Don't fall into the trap of thinking that all Real Estate agents are the same. Many sellers have painfully discovered that there is a vast difference among agents. Picking the right agent can mean the difference between a smooth transaction and a nightmare that can foul up all your plans and cost you thousands-of-dollars.

1. How Long Has The Agent Been Selling Real Estate? You may not want to list your home with an agent who just got their Real Estate license last month and this will give you an idea of how much experience the agent has. There is a tremendous amount of turnover in the Real Estate sales business, especially in the first two years. Some new agents are sharp, but in general, an agent with several years experience under their belt may be best able to serve you.

2. Does the Agent Have a List of Homes in Which they have Sold in the past 6 Month, Year, Career? Look for an agent who is active in your area and price range. Also look for an agent that sells at least a few homes each month. An agent that is actively selling will be sharper and more familiar with the market and better prepared to represent and advise you in the sale of your home. Visit our listed properties here.

3. What is the Agent's Average Sales Price or Days to Sell? You want an agent that routinely sells homes like yours. Agents usually tend to work in certain price ranges. For example, if your home was worth $150,000, you wouldn't want to list with an agent who primarily sells homes in the $700,000 range (vice versa). That agent's clientele typically would not be interested in your home. The standard average time to sell on the open Market is referred to as the number of "Days on the Market". A good agent should know this information without even having to think about it. Furthermore this will give you a good idea when to start packing. Visit our Sellers Profile Systems.

5. What is the industries average percentage of homes listed that actually sell? This is expressed as a percentage. For example, if the agent's ratio is 89.5% to 95.2% would mean that on average, a home that is valued at $100,000 would sell in the industry for approximately $89,500.00 to $95,200.00 dollars.

6. What is the Agents Percentage to Sell and List Price to Sales Price Ratio? This is expressed as a percentage. While no agent ever sells 100% of the listings, it is a good indication of the agents knowledge on pricing, their ability to adapt to changes in the market and how well they communicate with their clients. For example, if the agent's ratio is 97.3%, this would mean that on average, a home listed by the agent for $100,000 would sell for approximately $97,300.00 dollars or more. Click to see what our current average list to sell percentage. Although this does change from time to time depending on the current state of the market, it always stays above the industry average list to sell percentages.

7. Does the Agent have a Personal Assistant or Other Support Staff Working for Them? Some agents employ an assistant or staff. This often means better service, and it can be an indication that the agent treats selling Real Estate as serious business. By employing someone to handle the small details the agent may be able to devote more time to serving your needs. Be sure you know up front how much involvement you can expect directly from your agent, and how much is usually handled by someone else. It may be fine that most of your interaction after the listing is with an assistant or other staff member as long as you are kept apprised of exactly what is being done to get your home sold, and have good lines of communication. Meet our Team Players.

8. What is the Agents Marketing Plan for Your Home? Have the agent explain step-by-step exactly what they plan to do to find qualified buyers for your home. Every agent will put your home in the MLS system and throw a sign in the yard. Look for an agent that utilizes aggressive and innovative marketing techniques to give you an advantage over the competition. Go ahead and List with us and get what you expect. More information is provided upon meeting with the seller.

9. What is the Agents Recommendations for the Asking Price of Your Home? The agent should be prepared to suggest a price or price range for your home, and explain to you exactly how they came up with it. They should have a computerized market analysis of homes similar to yours that are available, under contract, and recently closed. Watch the agent carefully here, this is an area where you can really gauge their experience and ability. This information will be provided to seller upon meeting. Get a Suzette.Net Market Analysis form now.

10. How Much will You Net at Closing? A competent agent should be able to quickly complete a net sheet to determine what your net proceeds will be at closing after all of the costs of selling and your mortgage (if any) have been deducted. This is another area where you'll want to watch the agent closely. An experienced agent should be able to do this in minutes and confidently explain what all of the costs associated with selling are. We will provide you with a estimated sellers closing statement.

11. How will the Agent Keep You Informed? Clear communication between yourself and the agent is critical for a smooth transaction. The agent should have a system for keeping you abreast of the progress of your sale, be it by phone call, letter, fax, etc. The agent or a competent assistant should be available to you Find out what our Marketing plan for your home.

12. Will the Agent Advise You on Preparing and Staging You Home? A home that is properly prepared and staged will always sell faster and at a higher price. The agent should provide you with tips and suggestions on how to accomplish this. A good agent will give you honest recommendations, even at the risk of offending you. Visit our time tested tips.

13. Do You Have Any Questions for the Agent? Beware of an agent that doesn't have some questions for you as well. A sharp agent will begin by asking you a series of questions in order to fully understand your situation. Only then can they advise you on the best course of action to take towards selling your home.

When you list with Suzette and her Team of Real Estate Professionals you can be sure that she and her Team know where they stand on these questions, and many of them can be answered right now. Taking the time to do a little research before you sign a listing agreement can save you many hours of frustration and thousands-of-dollars. Take your time, and make an informed decision!