Kadi Brown: Consumer Guide for Seller Agents

When it comes to selling your home, finding the right real estate agent is essential for a smooth and successful process. The National Association of Realtors has put together a helpful guide to help sellers better understand what questions to ask when selecting a real estate agent. This guide provides valuable insights to help you feel confident in your decision and find a professional who will work in your best interests.

Here are some key points from NAR’s “Consumer Guide: Ten Questions to Ask a Salesperson.”

Are you a real estate agent?
When you work with a real estate agent, you are working with a professional who is guided by ethical duties under the Code of Ethics for Real Estate Agents, including a commitment to protect and advance the interests of their clients.

What types of services can you offer me?
Your agent can help you market your property, communicate with buyer’s agents, handle showings and open houses, negotiate the purchase agreement on your behalf, assist during the closing process and more.

Are you familiar with the market where I am selling my house?
Your real estate agent must be licensed where you are selling your home. But they must also have the market knowledge to facilitate a successful transaction. While previous experience with the market where your property is located is not a requirement, local knowledge can help your agent develop a strategy that resonates with local buyers.

What is included in our listing contract?
At the beginning of your relationship, you and your agent will sign a listing agreement that states the agent can represent you and market your property to potential buyers and their agents and sets the sales price for your home. It also outlines the type of professional representation your agent will provide and what he will be paid for those services. Please note that broker compensation is completely negotiable and not set by law.

How did you arrive at the suggested list price for my home?
Setting a strong initial asking price based on your agent’s market knowledge is important to capture buyer interest and ensure the best possible offer. Your real estate agent should conduct market research to determine an appropriate price that will both attract potential buyers and ensure that you receive fair market value for your home.

How will you market my house?
Agents can use different marketing methods to reach potential buyers, and they should walk you through the pros and cons of each option. For example, one tool that real estate agents use to market real estate is a Multiple Listing Service, an online platform that compiles home listings from real estate agents in a given market to reach the largest possible group of buyers and potentially attract the best offers.

How do I attract potential buyers?
There are many strategies that can help attract potential buyers. Compensation offers (when you or your agent reward another agent for getting a buyer to successfully complete the transaction) and seller concessions (when you cover certain costs associated with the purchase of a home for the buyer ) can, for example, lead to better or faster processing of the transaction. offering by reducing the out-of-pocket and initial costs for potential buyers.

What do I need to do to prepare my house?
To prepare your home for the show, your agent may suggest investing in necessary repairs or other upgrades that could increase buyer interest in the property.

How will you research potential buyers?
An important part of selling your home is making sure potential buyers are financially prepared to make their offer. Discuss with your agent how they plan to evaluate potential buyers. This may include submitting a pre-approval letter in addition to the offer.

Do you have references I can speak to?
Many agents are happy to put you in touch with satisfied clients they have worked with in the past and who can talk about their experiences.

Choosing the right real estate agent can make all the difference in your home selling experience. By asking the right questions and understanding what to expect, you can confidently navigate the process and achieve your real estate goals. #That’sWhoWeR