When it comes to putting your home on the market and finding a real estate professional to guide you through there are a lot of things you need to know about your agent before making a decision. Experience is a key factor but other aspects of selling your home and seller representation come into play as well. Read on to see the top seven questions you should ask any listing agent before listing your home for sale.

1. How many times have you represented the seller only in a home sale over the past year? - There are different types of agents out there namely seller and buyer agents. Finding an agent who focuses on selling homes and representing sellers will greatly improve your odds of having a less stressful home selling experience. Representing home sellers is a different concept entirely from representing home buyers and you should take that into account when interviewing agents.

2. How many homes have you sold in the past year? - The real estate industry is home to over one million practicing professionals and each agent can choose whether to work part-time or full time.

Additionally, total number of home sales is a good indicator of how often the agent follows up and works well with clients.

3. What have your last three listings sold for (final price) and what were their original asking prices? - This question will answer a few others like whether the listing agent is the type to price the home right or a chronic overpricer and how well they negotiate.

There are agents who constantly push for the maximum possible price reduction every three weeks after taking your home as their listing and will advertise your level of motivation to everyone they know. You want an agent who is on your side and respects your transaction as much as you do. It's your money and future so knowing their negotiating success and marketing practices are crucial to your investment.

4. In what area do you sell the most homes? - It's important to find a listing agent who knows the town and area around your home because they will be able to help answer any objections a potential home buyer may have. They will also be able to confidently explain detailed facts about the schools, future developments in the area and mass transit options.

5. What is the average number of days on the market for your last three listings? - Does the listing agent sit on a house for 9-10 months or do they work daily to sell your home? Sometimes it's not the fault of the listing agent that a home will sit on the market (poor condition, overpriced etc.) but a large number of days on the market for the agent's last three homes might uncover a pattern of being out of touch with the market.

6. What makes you different from other listing agents? - Is this agent using the same listing presentation downloaded from their MLS as every other agent in town? Do they just plan to throw your home in the MLS and hope for the best? Finding out where the listing agent shines will go a long way in setting your home apart from the competition.

7. How quickly can I expect a response from you? - A big concern for home sellers is what is going to happen once you do start the home selling process. Will your agent be available by phone, text or email? Will you have to wait three days for a response? These are important questions to ask before you choose your listing agent.

Knowing more about your listing agent will make you much more comfortable about working with the agent and give you a more open forum to candidly discuss aspects of home selling like final sale price, contingencies and what to expect throughout the transaction.

If you have futher questions feel free to contact me.

When it comes to choosing professionals to assist you with your real estate needs...Experience is Priceless! Andre’ Shambley & Miami’s Best REALTOR®. Team, The Keyes Company, 305-788-6643. AndreShambley@Keyes.com,
http://www.OnePlaceOpenHouse.com

Ready to refinance or looking for a better rate? For your complimentary rate quote visit Jacinta Shambley, APEX Lending, Inc. JShambley@APEXLending.com . http://www.JShambley.ApexLending.com

my 1.2 cents: part 1
Sellers: Your agent should be willing to do open houses, print advertising, internet advertising and should already have a list of buyers to show the property to. This agent should have good communication skills and be honest enough to tell you things you might not want to hear. They should be very critical of your house, your asking price and your motivation to sell. Before you choose your agent, you should interview 3 to 5 agents based on referrals, searching on the internet or by going to open houses. Do not pick them by walking into an office. After all, just because they are in an office does not mean they are currently active in Real Estate. Personally, I know several agents that go to the office everyday but do not do any business.
Now, let’s break down the qualifications to sell a home. How are the agents phone&communication skills, for example: did they answer their phone when you called or return your call promptly and did they show up for your interview or appointment on time? Printed advertising is best for open houses and can be valuable in our tourist areas. Internet advertising is critical. There is no excuse for not having a presence on the internet. Find out if they are on Trulia.com. If they are, you can actually lookup their profile and check out their answers to the consumers questions on their blog. Although this is not necessary, it does help you find out about the type of agent and person they are according to their answers and to what you are looking for. If they do not have their own website or buyers have to fill out a form to view listings on their website…do not use them. Let me explain: When they enter the data on your home into the MLS, it is syndicated to other websites, but that really is not enough. They should have it syndicated through their own website and also update the information on Craig’s list, Kijiji and a number of other websites available to them. A lot of people may not pay much attention to the list of buyers, but this could be the most valuable asset a listing agent could have. When they show one of their houses or have an open house, they have the opportunity to get information on the buyers criteria for the home they are looking for, such as price range, number of bedrooms, location etc. Than when your home is listed, your agent can go through the list of buyers and see if it matches any of their criteria.

How do they do an open house? If they pay for a $30 ad in the local paper and throw a sign out-do not use them regardless of how many open houses they are willing to do.Now, let me explain how I do my open houses. I hold an open house once a month and I spend a lot of time and money on them because they are important. I pay for the advertising in the newspaper with the map if possible. I hand out flyers to all the neighbors, I put signs on the major intersections leading to the home in advance to let the public know the date, address and times I will be holding the open house. I send post cards to neighboring communities with the same information. If the seller agrees, my wife&I supply & prepare food and beverages. On the day of the open house I handout flyers to the gas stations in the area and make sure there are enough signs out, so that from any direction they may be driving they are visible to any potential buyers. Before I became a mortgage broker, I made sure I invited one to the open house or had one available by phone to qualify the potential buyer in case they wanted to write an offer on the spot. (Speaking of offers, when interviewing your potential agent, ask to see a sales contract, if they have one this is a good sign, they are prepared as I always am)

Part 2

Ask all the agents you are interviewing to bring a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) along with them, however, do not tell them how much you hope to get for your home. When you are looking over the CMA, ask questions and ask them to explain the values. Again, do not tell them, at any point how much you want to sell your home for and do not choose your potential agent because they said your home was worth more than the other agents. Look over all the information and pick the CMA that is MOST ACCURATE, NOT THE BEST. If the most accurate CMA is lower than you want to sell your home, than do not waste yours and your agents time, just let them know you are not interested in selling. On the flip side of that, if you list with the agent that has the highest (but inaccurate) CMA, than you are setting yourself up for disappointment if your home does not sell within the time amount you allotted and you will have to drop the price at that time. Please keep in mind that with the way todays market conditions are, you will be chasing the market by lowering your price every 3months.

During the interview process of choosing your agent, ask them what they suggest to “prep” your home, that way when you do choose your agent, you will already have some input from more than one agent and even though you are not using all of the agents you can still use their ideas. Also during the interview, ask them what their marketing plan is and what will change, if the home does not sell in 30, 60 or 90 days.


David Chamberlain

Having been through a negative experience you definitely have some awareness of what you don't want to deal with. Using a good interview format will help you to make the right choice. Consider the following questions:

1. What were your gross sales for 2008?

2. Explain your marketing plan.

3. How do you attract foreign buyers?

4. Tell us about your personal web presence. Your companies web presence.

5. How do you plan to sell my home?

6. Why should we decide to work with you instead of another agent?

7. Do you have references you are willing to share with us?

8. Tell us about all of the places you and your company advertise.

9. How ofter do you do open houses?

10. Have you sold properties in our community?

We suggest that you interview 3-4 agents using these and other questions to help you become more familiar with the agents style. Do not however, lose sight of the fact that you need to be able to work closely with this person.

Good luck
The Eckler Team

Terryrzzo,
I would like to welcome you to Trulia also. Good luck to you as well.

Polonco,
There are excellent, good, average, and bad agents whether they belong to the NAR or not.

Make sure your agent is a REALTOR.! When listing a property you can interview as many agents as you wish until you find the one that has the professionalism and a marketing plan that you are comfortable with. Look in your neighborhood and start with Realtors that are most familiar with your area. Determine why you were discontented with your previous Realtor and stay away from others with those characteristics (or lack of).

Renard,

Welcome. I really like the fact that you dig all types of people and all types of music. You sound like you belong in Austin. Good luck on Trulia. Tip: All caps are not in good taste online. Considered shouting.

SHORT AND SIMPLY PUT... TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS AND GO WITH A COMPANY THAT HAS THE TRACK RECORD TO BACK UP THE WORDS.!!! I WOULD LOVE TO POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!

Would welcome the opportunity to assist you! However, you must decide what yor realistic expectations are from a Realtor.

It would be helpful to know what didn't work for you with your previous Realtors.

Good luck!

Mattye P. Smith
Realtor

American Realtors

That is a great question, you'd be surprised how many home sellers don't even ask that question, they simply hire the first agent they talk to. First of all, use a local agent, an agent 50 miles from your property won't be able to service your house or the buyers who call on the sign very easily. Also, ask the agent to show you a report of their activity in the last 12 months. 2008 was a hard year, agents had to work twice as hard, a creative experienced agent should have been able to work through problems and hold "most" of the deals together. Ask the agent to show you the listings they sold and also the listings that expired. Choose a property or two off that list and ask to see the mls print out for those and look at the quality of the pictures, description of the house, days on the market and if there were price reductions. One important thing is the first impression you have of the agents you interview, if they are professional, warm and welcoming on the phone, and in person, that's the same feeling callers on the sign are likely to have. I work most areas east of Dallas and Garland happens to be in my market area! I would love to interview with you. By the way, always interview three agents before you make a decision!!

Shelley Dudley- Realtor
"D" Magazine
"Top Residential Realtors"
SLDudley@kw.com
Keller Williams Realty
Cell # 214-734-8850
Fax # 972-772-7001

Polonca
If you can get some referrals, make sure that whoever refers you has used the agents during the bubble bust, or knows someone who has. If the referring party suggests an agent that they only have knowledge of during the bubble, be careful. I know from where I speak. :(

Mainly in my mind you need someone who is going to answer the phone, email and even text message that you send. For selling with me it is all about honest feedback from myself and people who have seen the house. Bottom line on whether your house sells or not is its location and its price for the location. Its a buyers market so sellers unfortunately have to give a little right now. I would be more than happy to discuss listing your house. One thing about me is that I have no large name Broker however I am a member of all of the same boards and thus have access to giving you the same exposure. With the lack of a large commission split I can afford to list your property for 4%. 4% to buyers agent and 1% to me for the listing. Please check out my website or call me directly with any questions 214-682-0598.

Thanks for your time
RJ Avery

Polonca,

Great question. Not all agents are good at what they do!!!
I recommend that you ask friends/relatives/coworkers who they used and what there experience was during their transaction.
Someone you know will know a good realtor.

Otherwise... I have had the pleasure of working with some awesome real estate agents in the metroplex and the unfortunate circumstances of working with some bad ones..... Should you not be able to find one the way I suggested, let me know and I will be happy to refer you to someone.

Good luck!!

Referrals and references are still the best tool. Feel free to contact me and I will be happy to assit you.

Naima
214-289-8555
Naima@Sumner-Realty.com

You may want to check out the link below. Good luck.

http://www.trulia.com/blog/rockinblu/2008/12/i_ve_got_my_fin…