5 QUESTIONS

to Ask Every Agent Before Listing Your Home

As encouraging news of the reviving housing market gains momentum, many homeowners will again consider selling their home. If you’re like most sellers, a home is your single largest financial asset, and the commission paid to a real estate professional is substantial. Therefore, you should have high expectations of an agent, and fully understand the strategies and tools they use to market your home. To be sure your home is sold quickly and for the best price, ask an agent these questions before listing your home with them:

How will you market my home to local buyers?

Real estate remains hyper local. In 2016, the National Association of REALTORS® reported that home buyers only moved about 14 miles from their previous residence.

Buying a home typically takes about three months from the time a buyer starts their search to signing a contract. During that time, buyers continue to work, shop, eat, and play in areas adjacent to their current home and community. Ask your agent how they plan to reach local buyers.

How will you market my home to out of market buyers?

While many potential buyers will be local, depending on your home and surrounding area, out-of-market buyers could also prove to be a valuable audience. While ensuring that your home is listed on one of the many MLS services online is a great start, it doesn’t constitute an aggressive marketing program for your home.

To get the best results, successful agents must use outbound, direct marketing and other avenues to reach buyers in other areas.

How will you market my home to other local top agents?

Holding open houses is always a good investment. Both agents and local home shoppers can actually see the unique character of your home versus just looking at online photos. It engages other local agents, which can also bring you a buyer more quickly. Additionally, professional quality printed materials like flyers and postcards keep your home in front of them long after they walk out the door.

What types of media will you use to advertise my home?

In today’s multi-media world advertising is everywhere, and the way consumers find information is constantly changing. Be cautious of agents who use only the web to market your home. Your agent must understand the importance of multiple media, like social media, mobile apps, text codes, local real estate magazines, direct mail and other printed materials to actively reach out to buyers everywhere—not just passively hoping for buyers to find your listing online.

How are you going to realistically price my home?

Pricing a home requires an intimate knowledge of the market to get it right. You want to get the best price, but there can be a disconnect between your expectations as a seller and the price for which your home will realistically sell.

If an agent overprices your home, it may ultimately sell for less than it would have if priced correctly from the beginning. It could also create conflict with the bank’s appraisal when the buyer tries to secure a mortgage.

Ask to see a comparison of list price, sold price, and number of days on market for your agent’s ten most recent transactions. Homes that sit on the market too long and go through multiple price reductions are typically overpriced.

Calculate the commission you pay to get your home sold and we think you will agree that you have the right to expect a very aggressive campaign. The best agents in your town will meet or exceed the expectations that we’ve laid out here and you deserve to work with only the best.