Selling your home is a major decision; you want to make sure you have the best listing agent by your side. This person will be responsible for helping you determine the right asking price, marketing your home, negotiating with buyers, and ultimately getting your home sold. Here are 12 real estate interview questions to ask when you’re quizzing potential real estate agents to make sure you find the right fit for you and your home.
Background and Experience
1. First and foremost, how long have you been working as a real estate agent? You want someone who has plenty of experience and knows the ins and outs of the real estate business. Their track record alone should speak volumes for itself.
2. How exactly do you determine the listing price for a home? Many factors go into pricing a home, from recent sales data to current market conditions. A good real estate agent will be able to explain their pricing strategy in detail, specifically for the neighborhood where your home is located.
3. Are you a believer in hosting open houses? Some agents swear by them, while other agents believe they’re not worth the time and effort. Get your agent’s opinion on open houses before making a final decision. Keep in mind there may not be a right or wrong answer; rather, the rationale behind an agent’s opinion of open houses will give you some insight into how different real estate agents work.
4. How do you handle negotiations with buyers? A top real estate agent knows precisely how to negotiate in order to get you the best possible sale price for your home. They will be able to communicate effectively and persuasively with a potential buyer's agent.
About Your Home
5. What would be your strategy for marketing my home? You want real estate professionals to have a well-thought-out plan for getting your home in front of as many potential buyers as possible. Before awarding your listing, they should be able to confidently summarize the channels they will use and the resources at their disposal. If the MLS (multiple listing service) is their only tool for getting your property online-- they may not have the most nuanced marketing plan.
6. What will our communication look like during the selling process? You should feel comfortable reaching out to your agent with any questions or concerns, so be sure to establish clear lines of communication from the start. Make sure you discuss communication cadence and your preferred methods (calls, texts, emails, in person, etc). If their communication skills are subpar, that does not bode well for your selling experience.
7. What price do you honestly believe you could get for my home? Put them on the spot about the critical aspect(s) of your real estate transaction. If the bottom line is ultimately the most important result, then you shouldn’t feel bashful asking directly about it. Professional agents should be able to answer questions about the final selling price without hesitation.
8. Do you have any questions for me? An experienced and knowledgeable agent will have plenty of questions for you about your home, your goals, and what your ideal outcome would be from the sale. If they don’t ask you anything, that is a red flag.
Top Real Estate Agents Think outside the Box
9. What are the most common mistakes sellers make during home sales? Knowing what pitfalls to avoid can save you time, money, and stress down the road. This is also a chance to validate the agent’s proficiency in the general real estate market.
10. Are there any other services you offer sellers? Many real estate agents offer additional services such as home staging or help with repairs and renovations prior to listing. Be sure to ask about any additional offers that may be of interest to you, if all they do is sell homes.
11. What’s the worst transaction you’ve experienced? Agents are always happy to tell you all about their successful deals. Making them detail a time that was unsuccessful, and more importantly what they learned, can be revelatory. Achieving growth in an agent’s professional trajectory signals experience. Being able to discuss difficult real estate sales conveys sound self awareness — a desirable trait for a listing agent.
12. Is there anything else I should know about working with you? This is an open-ended question that allows your potential agent to share anything else they think is important for you to know before making a final decision. Asking an expansive question may seem unhelpful but in reality it gives the agent some space to think out loud and give you some insight into who they are and how their mind works. You want them to give you any insight into the real estate industry that may identify them as an experienced agent.
Conclusion
When it comes time to sell your home, choosing the right real estate agent is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. With so much riding on this decision, it’s imperative that you take the time to interview potential agents until you find the best one for you. Use this list of 12 questions as a starting point during your interviews, and don’t hesitate to add any others that come to mind during the conversation. With a little time and preparation, you’ll be able to easily determine the agent that will bring the most successful outcome to your home sale.
Like this blog post? Curious what questions other people ask when interviewing real estate agents? Share this with your friends and see what they asked their real estate broker before signing a listing agreement.
