Hiring the best real estate agent near you is critical when you decide to sell your home. But before hiring a professional, these 8 questions will help you find the best agent to sell your home. The answers they give you will make the difference between a frustrating transaction or a great one.
1. How will you price my home?
Price is the number one factor most homebuyers use when deciding which homes to view. While the seller ultimately decides their home’s asking price, the actual value of a home is determined by the market. This is why the strategy an agent uses to help price your home is top in the list of 8 questions to ask.
One of the key elements to pricing a home is how the home stacks up against other homes currently on the market or similar homes that have recently sold. The best real estate agents will determine a home’s worth based on location, features, and current market conditions. They will provide a comparative market analysis (CMA) report. This is a report comparing the price of recently sold and currently active homes that are similar to a seller’s home in terms of location, style, and features. However, while market research can determine a certain price range, only an experienced local agent will be able to help you price your home correctly. As a result, an appropriately priced home attracts the right buyers who will make serious offers.
2. What advice and/or help will you provide to prepare my home for sale?
It’s never too early to prepare your home for sale. Your real estate agent should offer advice on how to prepare your home, give you home preparedness checklists, and suggest improvements that will make the biggest impact.
Staging a home can be a powerful tool when it comes to selling real estate. Potential buyers should be able to imagine themselves living in the home. In other words, it’s important to think of buyers when preparing a home for sale. Staging options typically include using your own furnishings, hiring local staging professionals, or having your home staged virtually. The best real estate professionals work closely with sellers offering suggestions on how to stage their home prior to going on the market.
3. What is your marketing strategy?
Never select a real estate agent based on only the price they suggest for your home sale. One of the 8 questions to ask is their property marketing plan. The most effective marketing strategies combine a property’s unique story with leading edge technology.
Overall, 44% of home buyers begin their search on-line. This means that today’s listings must be marketed on agency websites, home sale sites, social media sites, and search engines. Be sure you know where your home will be featured.
In addition, ask if the agent provides other marketing assets. Look at examples. Check out property photographs, videos, and home descriptions for their other listings.
4. Will you use professional photography and/or video?
Professional photography and videos are a key component to attracting the highest number of buyers.
According to the National Association of REALTORS:
- Both home buyers and sellers report that photography is critical to marketing a home successfully. In fact, 87% of buyers report photography was critical in their home selection process.
- Real estate listings with video receive 403% more inquiries than listings without.
The best real estate agent provides professional photography and video services as part of their marketing strategy. But even when agents hire a professional, there can be pitfalls. Pictures should represent your home in the best possible light and feature the best assets. They should showcase your home but not misrepresent what the home really looks like. The last thing you want is for buyers to arrive and feel disappointed because the pictures have been doctored and look completely different than the actual home. A good photographer represents your home correctly without extreme edits.
5. Do you use social media to market properties?
Traditionally, the real estate industry has relied on older marketing methods, i.e. print advertising and postcards. But this is no longer the case. Homebuyers search for homes that meet their preferences on social media sites and on the internet. The best real estate agents know how to use these platforms and post properties for sale. Sites such Facebook and Instagram are ideal to maximize exposure.
6. Will you hold an open house?
Even though buyers begin their home search on-line, open houses are still an excellent way to showcase a home. They increase grassroots visibility for a property to further expand the marketing campaign.
7. What is your real estate agent’s communication plan?
Do you prefer phone calls, text messages, or emails? How often do you want to hear from your agent? This is a very personal choice and one you should understand before signing on with a particular agent. Make sure they are there for you when you need them. That their communication is clear and concise.
Real estate transactions can be emotional. At all times, two-way communication is essential. The best real estate agents know how, when and with whom to communicate in every scenario. They should have experience dealing with many different situations. For instance, sales with siblings, divorce situations that require separate attorneys, or emotional sales such as when a client decides to sell their beloved family home after many years.
The best real estate agents know when to listen and when to act. They understand your goals. They guide you through every step of the process from listing to closing and beyond.
8. How do you follow up with interested buyers?
Today’s competitive market consists of scenarios where homes can receive multiple offers. The best real estate agents have a dedicated system for keeping track of serious buyers. They are experienced negotiators and know how to navigate multiple offers. They know your goals and move quickly with confidence to secure the best possible outcome. In addition, they should know how to choose the most qualified buyer, particularly in a multiple offer situation. In fact, the highest price is not always the best offer. A seasoned agent knows this and understands there are many factors to consider before accepting an offer such as contingencies, time frame for closing, etc.
It’s never too early to hire a real estate professional. Selling your home in the South Shore real estate market will go smoothly if you ask the right questions and hire the best real estate agent with the right skill set. Looking to get started? Click below, answer a few simple questions, and get a custom home valuation created specifically for your home.
