Whether you are selling your lifetime home or an investment property, finding and selecting a real estate agent is a big decision. You want to make sure your agent understands your needs and is able to secure the best possible sale price for your house – without charging an arm and a leg! Interview potential agents confidently and with ease and check out our top 10 questions to ask when selling your property…
1. How long have you been a real estate agent?
Experience counts in any industry but especially this one! While that doesn’t mean your default choice has to be the most experienced agent, you need to be on the lookout for someone who seems knowledgeable and capable when it comes to handling all aspects of the sale. These attributes, combined with the right enthusiasm and motivation are sure to guarantee that you secure the right buyer and the best price.
2. What properties have you recently sold in the area?
It’s not uncommon for agents to specialise in a particular type of property. Given this, it’s widely recommended that you seek someone who has sold at least five properties similar to your own in the last year.
3. What price do you think my house can sell for?
Prospective agents will provide you with the sale price they think they can secure for your house. The best follow-up question to ask is, “What are you basing that on?” A good agent will be able to support their conclusion with recent sales of similar properties in your area and sound knowledge of the market. Check out this article to find out the costs involved when selling.
4. How much will I need to spend on advertising?
Advertising comprises the bulk of your fees and encompasses both digital and more traditional paper forms. Depending on the kind of property and its location, digital media options may be sufficient. It’s important that you discuss this preliminary issue early on since your potential agent may be willing to reduce their rate if you bear all of the marketing outlays.
5. How long do you think it will take to sell my property?
Don’t expect anything overly specific or exact with this question. The main idea is to gauge the agent’s understanding of the current market, the factors affecting your area, and how this will impact the selling price.
6. How do you handle potential buyers’ questions?
Selling your property is all about engaging with potential buyers so your agent needs to be a people person! Taking note of basic things such as how they interact with you, how they present themselves, and how effectively they communicate their point is critical to making the right choice.
7. Are your fees negotiable?
This isn’t about finding the cheapest agent! What’re you aiming to discover is what their fees include and how confidently they can justify their price. Your prospective agent should be a sound negotiator. After all, it’s what counts the most when selling your property.
8. How should I sell my property?
There are a number of campaign options your agent may recommend, from an auction to a price on application to a sale. Campaigns will be market-dependent and ascertaining which one works best with the seller’s wishes and is going to appeal to the largest group of potential buyers is a skillful exercise. Here’s what to expect once your house is up for sale.
9. Do you have references I can contact?
Don’t be afraid to get feedback or seek verification from past clients or even employers. Just asking this question in itself is a good indicator of your potential agent’s capability and thoroughness.
10. What makes you different from other real estate agents?
When it comes to selling your property you have a practically endless pool of suitable agents to select from. What you need to know is how this professional stands apart from their peers. It’s obvious that a good agent will be convincing and engaging!
How Can iBuildNew Help?
Building a new home and have a property that you need to sell during this process? iBuildNew recommends Agent Select. They are a property advisory service that organises FREE, no-obligation appraisals of your property, and provide you with a comparison report showing agent price estimates, commission and marketing fees, and the best agents in your area. To discuss further options, give us a call on 1800 184 284 or book a call online.
Let us do the legwork for you.
- We’ll ask the right questions to better understand your needs
- We’ll create a recommended shortlist ideally matched to you
- We’ll answer specific questions or concerns related to home building, land purchasing or financing
1800 184 284
