Important Questions to Ask Every Real Estate Agent You Interview to Sell Your Home

There are hundreds of articles on the Internet about choosing a real estate agent.  many of these include the questions to ask every real estate agent you interview to sell your home.

This is not one of those lists of questions but rather the general topics to be include when interviewing a real estate agent to sell your home.

In my opinion the most important questions deal with three main topics.

1. Local knowledge.  Have you ever sold any homes in my neighborhood?  If so, when?   I have written this many times – local knowledge is critical.  How many homes are for sale in your neighborhood?  What type of sales are they (standard, short sale, foreclosure)?   What is my main competition?  Neighborhood knowledge is key - knowing your neighborhood and where your likely buyer will come from is key to market success.
2. Experience. How long have you been in the real estate business?   Having gone through a real estate market shakedown during the 2005-2008 period I think real estate agents who were in the business before and remained in the business have demonstrated some strengths like tenacity, creativity, stick to it ability, managing budgets, achieving results.
3. Success.   It is not necessarily how many listings one has today or has had in the past.  It is about the percent of listings that sell.  It is about the percent of original list price they get for their sellers.  It is about the number of days on the market (after all there are carrying costs while selling).  

 
Here is a list of questions to ask when interviewing a real estate agent to sell your home.

What is the best way to sell my house?

Signs your house is not priced right.

The Three Ps of Selling Your Home


Considering selling your Viera, Florida home?    Call me at 321-693-3850 if I can help.

The Home Buying Process...More than just opening a few doors.

I recently read an article that talked about how consumers "these days" only need a real estate agent to open the doors so they can look in the house.  It seems many seem to think the information is all on the Internet so they can go from there.

The reality is that information can be good or it can be bad.  The key is separating the wheat from the chaff.  In real estate that key is your Realtor®.

The home buying process is an education.  Ask anyone who has ever purchased or sold a home and they will attest to the educational process!  In real life very few can start school ready to graduate - even if they have all the books in their bookshelf!

So where does a buyer start?  Regardless of experience home buyers should start at the same place - get an experienced local real estate agent.  A major responsibility of your real estate agent is educational including the process, area, prices, trends, etc.

Your real estate agent will likely start with an assessment of experience and goals.   This will mean a lot of questions!

With these answers your agent will begin your education.  It may end with a new home purchase now or a plan to purchase at a later date.  Sometimes getting the mortgage lined up takes time.  Sometimes it is a matter of saving cash for closing expenses.  Sometimes the time is just not right to make the purchase.

Having an individualized plan based on real, verifiable information is critical to the home buying process.

Ready to buy or sell a home in Melbourne, Florida?  Call me at 321-693-3850 or send me an email.  It doesn't cost a thing to discuss your goals and how I can assist you in meeting them.

"I find them on Zillow but then they are already sold."

I find them on Zillow but then they are already sold.
What is there about this web site that the data is so old?
What is a home buyer to do?
You know I can not live in a zoo?

I had a call yesterday afternoon from a prospective buyer who had reached his limit.  He has been searching on Zillow for homes for sale in Rockledge, Florida.  And it seems every one he finds he likes is "already sold when he checks on the Brevard MLS system web site."

Zillow and other mega sites are not the local multiple listing service.  They operate on a quantity over quality basis.  The local Brevard MLS system, like others, has mechanisms in place to monitor quality and accuracy (fines possible for agents).

So the question is....why deal with an inaccurate site and the frustrations of not knowing if a house is really for sale when you can call a local Realtor®?

I found it on the MLS when it was new.

This is what a home buyer should do.

The local MLS I can count on you.

No need to find out later its sold and be blue.

Looking for a house for sale in Rockledge, Florida?  Call me at 321-693-3850 or send me an email.  Why not?

Home Seller Tips: Differentiation is key.

Just this past week I showed several homes in the same Viera, Florida neighborhood which is not so unusual here with homes for sale in Viera, Florida where many of the developments were built by the same builder(s).

Some developments in the planned unit development of Viera area have perhaps four or five floor plans with the only change being the front elevation.  So once inside many look alike!

So when it comes time to sell your home it is critical to differentiate your home from all the other contenders for the buyer's money.

If your home is better than the others say so.

As a Viera and Melbourne, Florida real estate agent one of the questions I ask when being interviewed is "What quality do you like most about your home?"

When I am hired to sell your Viera, Florida home I am going to use the answer to the above question as the beginning point when I prepare my marketing plan.

Related articles here...

• Selling Your Home - A Couple of Key Questions to Ask When Interviewing Real Estate Agents

• Home Seller Tip - Don't Answer This Question First When Interviewing A Real Estate Agent to Sell Your Home

• Choosing Your Real Estate Agent: One who is willing to tell you what you NEED to hear is more important than one who tells you what you WANT to hear!

• Listing Interviews–Why Real Estate Agents Better Have Their Act Together!

Want to sell your Viera, Florida home?   Give me a call at 321-693-3850 or send me an email.  Lets set that interview date!

Choosing a Brevard County Real Estate Agent.

OPs is a term I heard years ago referring to the cigarette brand some cheapskates smoked – OPs - other people's.

These were the guys who never had their own but was quick to ask for one from you.

I quit smoking years ago.

As a real estate agent in Viera, Florida when I go to work for you, either as someone selling a Viera home or buying a Viera home, I can’t discuss your circumstances, strategies or plans with anyone else.

Real estate agents have a duty to their clients. 

If your home is on the market and your neighbor asks what is going on my response will be simple.  Ask yourself because I can’t talk about OPB…other people’s business!

As a single agent representing you I owe you confidentiality.  I owe you loyalty.  I have a fiduciary responsibility to you.

And these, as well as other obligations, I take very seriously.

Considering selling your Viera Florida home?   Call me at 321-693-3850 or email me for a free market analysis.