Five Questions to Ask Your Agent

1. How much experience do you have selling homes? 

Keep in mind, you are hiring someone to help you in this marketing process. Would you hire a doctor to do open heart surgery on your loved one if this was the first or second surgery, they have ever done? You may think it does not matter, but experience is what will help you to get top dollar with the least amount of stress. Experience will also help in pricing your home. Home price is one of the most critical aspect of marketing your home. An agent with the courage to tell you what you need to hear will be an agent with wisdom from experience.

2. Have you sold a home in our community?

It is possible the answer is going to be no. If so, ask the agent to describe your community, the schools and the amenities. There are thousands of subdivisions and so expecting a Realtor to have sold in all neighborhoods would be expecting a lot. Knowledge ot the neighborhood and love of the community will be easily shared with potential buyers.

3. How do you market your listings?  

Web presence is critical. Use Google to search the names of the agents and see where they place on first page of Google. Google your city name. Who are the first agents you find? This means that their listings will be viewed by buyers and provide maximum exposure for your home. If you cannot fiind them how can a buyer? Print advertising and, of course, on-line newspapers all are necessary to give your home maximum exposure.

4. How many of your own listings do you sell every year?  

Agents on average may only sell 1 percent of their own listings. That would mean that if an agent had 10 listings he or she would most likely sell one of their homes. If an agent has set up systems for returning calls and if the agent markets an area heavily, and if the agent has strong web presence, there is a very good chance his or her numbers will be higher than 1 percent. Sellers often complain about the number of times the agent or their company  shows their listing. Remember, a good agent might not be the agent who sells your home, but they will always be the reason your home sells.

5. How do you service your listings?  

The agent should have a detailed marketing program and a list of the task performed to get your home sold.


New Listings this week plus an Open House.

5910 Ranger Court
4999 Bridgeport Way,
5055 Broadgreen Drive,
5273 Amhurst Drive

Open House 4944 Marsh Hawk Trail Sunday, April 15, 2012, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.