Questions to ask your Realtor

A Simple Questioner that might help you find the Best Realtor for you

 1. How long have you been working in residential real estate sales? Is this your full-time profession?

Although experience doesn't guarantee skill and like many other fields, real estate is primarily learned through hands-on work.

2. What designations do you hold?

Only about one-quarter of real estate practitioners hold designations like GRI, or CRS, which require additional specialized real estate training.

3. How many homes did you and your real estate brokerage sell last year?

This question will give you a good understanding of the practitioner's experience level.

4. How long does it typically take you to sell a home? How does this compare to the overall market?

The Realtor you're interviewing should have this information readily available and be able to provide market statistics from the local MLS for comparison.

5. How close were the final sale prices of the homes you sold to the initial asking prices? This is an indication of the realtor's skill in pricing homes and effectively marketing them to suitable buyers.

6. What specific marketing systems and approaches will you use to sell my home?

You don't want someone who will simply put up a For Sale sign and hope for the best. Look for a realtor who employs aggressive and innovative strategies and knows how to market your property online competitively. Buyers nowadays want quick access to information, so it's essential for your realtor to be responsive.

7. Would you be able to represent me exclusively, or will you represent both the buyer and the seller in the transaction?

While it's usually legal for a realtor to represent both parties, it's crucial to understand where the practitioner's obligations lie. Your realtor should explain their agency relationship and describe the rights of each party involved.

8. Can you recommend service providers who can assist with obtaining a mortgage, home repairs, and other tasks?

Since realtors are deeply involved in the industry, they can be excellent resources when you need lenders, home improvement companies, or other home service providers. Ideally, the realtor should recommend multiple providers and disclose any special relationships or compensation arrangements they have.

9. What type of support and supervision does your brokerage offer you?

Having access to resources such as in-house support staff, real estate attorneys, and technical assistance can significantly benefit an agent's ability to sell your home.

10. What is your business philosophy?

While there is no correct answer to this question, the response will help you evaluate what matters most to the agent and determine how well their goals and business approach align with your own.

11. Could you let me know how you’ll keep me informed about the progress of my transaction?

How frequently can I expect updates? Again, there is no correct answer here, but the response will reflect what you want,

for example: Do you prefer frequent updates, twice a week, or would you instead be contacted only when there are promising prospects? Also, at this time you could you indicate your preferred mode of communication: phone calls, emails, text messages, or in-person meetings?

12. Do you have an assistant or assistant, and if so, are they full-time?

13. Do you support local or national Charities through your real estate work, and how do you do this?

For some people, this will be insignificant, but the answer you will get will give you a real indication of how involved and dedicated your Realtor is to the community and to your needs over their own.