Explore the Factors of Selling your Home: How to Find a Good Realtor

First a few housekeeping items: This month we’re exploring the various steps and factors of selling your home. If you haven’t read all of the articles in this series you may want to start here. 

If you are someone who prefers a printable work sheet you’ll want to head to my Homeowners Guide to Selling

How to Find a Good Realtor

Once you have decided that you would like to sell your home I highly suggest you speak with a Realtor.  The majority of people know a real estate agent, or have one in their family, however this article is aimed at making sure you have a good Realtor. A Realtor can assist you in getting your home ready to go on the market. They can tell you what your home may sell for, what the trends of the neighborhood market is and what improvements or changes you may want to make to your home so it is more desirable to buyers.

If you don’t know any Realtors you can reach out to family and friends for recommendations, consider Realtors that have sold homes in your neighborhood recently, or perhaps there is a charitable organization that is near and dear to your heart that a local agent regularly sponsors.  It is smart to interview a few Realtors so that you can find one that will work best for your situation.

When speaking with a Realtor there are a few basic questions you should ask:

1. What is your fee for listing a home and what does this include? Real Estate Agents are usually paid by commission that is based on a percentage of the price your home sales for. This percentage varies from area to area and agent to agent. Usually this percentage includes the marketing the agent will use, like photos, flyers etc., but it’s best to double check. In addition there are many other ways a Realtor can get paid and it’s best to know up front what the pay structure is.
2. Will I work with only you or do you have a team that I will be interacting with? Again it’s best to be clear upfront what timing and types of communication you can expect.
3. Where would you price my home and why?

I also highly recommend you ask some additional questions. Remember you are going to be relying on this person to not only get you the best price for your home, but also ensure you have a great transaction and usually you need to know more than what they charge to determine if this person is a good fit for you.

1. What inspections do you recommend I get prior to listing my home? I always recommend a seller get a pest inspection at minimum prior to listing their home, this there is time to do necessary repairs.
2. Is there anything you recommend I do to my home in order for it to appeal to more buyers? I will often give my sellers a punch list of things they can do to improve the appeal of the home. It could be fresh flowers to be planted, repairing cracks in the driveway, touching up paint on the interior of the home.
3. What pathways will you use to market my home? You don’t want an agent that is going to take pictures with their phone, use those on the MLS and call it a day. The agent should be discussing professional photos, email campaigns, social media or other venues that fit your home and the neighborhood it’s being sold in.

In conclusion, finding the right Realtor is paramount to a successful home sale. Look for someone well-versed in your local market, adept at showcasing properties, skilled in negotiation, and, above all, a trustworthy representative committed to securing the optimal price for your home. Your choice of Realtor can make all the difference in achieving a seamless and rewarding home-selling experience.