Make
sure you choose a REALTOR® who will provide top-notch service and
meet your unique needs.
While experience is no guarantee of skill, real estate — like many
other professions — is mostly learned on the job.
What designations do you hold?
Designations such as GRI and CRS® — which require that agents take
additional, specialized real estate training — are held by only
about one-quarter of real estate practitioners.
How many homes did you and your real estate brokerage sell last year?
By
asking this question, you’ll get a good idea of how much experience
the practitioner has.
How many days did it take you to sell the average home? How did that
compare to the overall market?
The
REALTOR® you interview should have these facts on hand, and be able
to present market statistics from the local MLS to provide a
comparison.
How close to the initial asking prices of the homes you sold were the
final sale prices?
This
is one indication of how skilled the REALTOR® is at pricing homes
and marketing to suitable buyers. Of course, other factors also may
be at play, including an exceptionally hot or cool real estate
market.
What types of specific marketing systems and approaches will you use
to sell my home?
You don’t want someone who’s going to put a For Sale sign in the
yard and hope for the best. Look for someone who has aggressive and
innovative approaches, and knows how to market your property
competitively on the Internet. Buyers today want information fast, so
it’s important that your REALTOR® is responsive.
Will you represent me exclusively, or will you represent both the
buyer and the seller in the transaction?
While it’s usually legal to represent both parties in a
transaction, it’s important to understand where the practitioner’s
obligations lie. Your REALTOR® should explain his or her agency
relationship to you and describe the rights of each party.
Can you recommend service providers who can help me obtain a
mortgage, make home repairs, and help with other things I need done?
Because REALTORS® are immersed in the industry, they’re wonderful
resources as you seek lenders, home improvement companies, and other
home service providers. Practitioners should generally recommend more
than one provider and let you know if they have any special
relationship with or receive compensation from any of the providers.
What type of support and supervision does your brokerage office
provide to you?
Having resources such as in-house support staff, access to a real
estate attorney, and assistance with technology can help an agent
sell your home.
What’s your business philosophy?
While
there’s no right answer to this question, the response will help
you assess what’s important to the agent and determine how closely
the agent’s goals and business emphasis mesh with your own.
How will you keep me informed about the progress of my transaction?
How frequently?
Again,
this is not a question with a correct answer, but it reflects your
desires. Do you want updates twice a week or do you not want to be
bothered unless there’s a hot prospect? Do you prefer phone,
e-mail, or a personal visit?
Could you please give me the names and phone numbers of your three
most recent clients?
Ask
recent clients if they would work with this REALTOR® again. Find out
whether they were pleased with the communication style, follow-up,
and work ethic of the REALTOR®.
Reprinted
from REALTOR® Magazine (RealtorMag.Realtor.org)
with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright
2008. All rights reserved.