7 Questions To Ask Before Retaining A Realtor To Sell Your Home

In today's housing market, retaining a Realtor to sell your home is more important then ever. It could make the difference between a clean transaction or a messy, stress filled nightmare.

Knowing the right questions to ask is the key to sifting out the average from the stand up and deliver agents. All it takes are these 7 important questions to ask when interviewing an agent.

1. Are you practicing Real Estate or a Professional Agent?

This question will determine the part timer from the full time career Realtor. Many agents today are working 2 jobs to compensate for the markets down turn. Both may be fine, but you need to know where their dedication lies.

2. When was the last time you took a Real Estate related class?

The fluidity of market conditions, state and local county regulations all require an agent to keep up with the times. Are they familiar with short sale proceedings? Do they have strong relationships with lenders, title companies, county assessors and home inspectors? Having active networking in each field will aid in selling your home.

3. Do you have any Personal References?

Are there clients who are willing to vouch for the effectiveness of the services provided? Don't limit your list to previous clients. Get names of the stated professional connections; the bankers, assessors and builders.

4. What is Your Marketing Plan?

The days of simply posting your home on a local listing service is long gone. What is needed today is a marketing system that includes consistent - diversified strategies. Getting your home into the view of a specifically targeted group is key.

5. How Many People do you speak to on a Daily Basis about Real Estate?

The answer to this question will indicate passion and personal ownership of representing you as a seller. How actively they talk with others about property will be indicative of how they will represent your property.

6. How Will You Handle Contract Negotiations?

This question is tricky because a Realtor, must not by law, act as consultants. They can however, guide you through the process by using comparative property values, standard Real Estate practice, and validating or explaining the normalcy of specific negotiation points.

7. Do You Guarantee Your Service?

Though the broker/agent contract in most states requires simple written record of "releasing" the agent, superior agents will have some sort of guarantee in place. Confidence and work ethic is important to an agent who will get the job done for you. This does not mean they can guarantee when it will sell, but rather they will get it sold.

The bottom line, though these questions are important is about your confidence in the way the answers are being presented. If he sells you, on his services, it's a good sign he will be able to do the same when it comes to selling your home.