3 Must-Ask Questions for a Prospective Real Estate Agent
If you're looking to sell your home soon, you'll probably want to work with an experienced real estate agent to help you through the process. Specifically, a professional from a local real estate agency can assist you with everything from pricing your home competitively to creating a stunning listing, scheduling tours, and even negotiating with prospective buyers.
Still, not all real estate agents share the same level of local experience and expertise. There are a few questions you can ask during an interview with a potential agent to help you choose the one that's right for you.
How Many Homes Have They Sold in Your Area?
Finding a real estate agent who is familiar with your neighborhood is a must. After all, no two neighborhoods are the same when it comes to home values, property value trends, and other market changes. When interviewing a prospective agent, then, don't hesitate to ask how many homes he or she has sold in your area in the past 12 months.
Likewise, you may want to inquire about the agent's specific list-to-price ratio on these homes and the average number of days their homes stay on the market.
What Do They Think About Your Home's Worth?
An experienced and confident real estate agent should also be able to provide you with a recommended list price on your home--but only after he or she comes to see it in-person. Make sure to find out exactly what considerations went into the agent's recommended list price. For example, did he or she look at similar homes that have sold in the area? Did he or she account for recent renovations or upgrades you've done to your home? These are all important factors.
What Repairs or Upgrades Does My Home Need?
Speaking of upgrades and renovations, an experienced sellers' agent should also be able to make some recommendations on upgrades or repairs that you should complete before listing to help you get top dollar for your property. This could be something as simple as painting your front door to boost curb appeal to something more complex, like addressing a mold issue in your basement.
When you take the time to ask the right questions, you can get a better feel for a real estate agent's experience and industry knowledge. From there, you can make a more confident choice when it comes time to choose an agent to represent you through the selling process!