Seller Reports
10 Questions To Ask Your Realtor®

1. Are you a full-time professional Realtor®? How long have you worked full time in real estate? What professional designations do you have?


2. Do you have a personal assistant, team, or staff to handle different parts of the sales transaction? What are their names and how will each of them help me in my transaction? How do I communicate with them?





  It's a good idea for you to set your expectations reasonably in accordance with how your Realtor® conducts business. You may be looking for an agent to call, fax, or email you every days to tell you about prospective buyers who have seen your home. On the other hand, your Realtor® may have access to systems that will notify you automatically each time a new visitor tours your home (which could happen several times a day or several times a week). Asking this extra question can help you to reconcile your needs with your Realtor®'s systems, which makes for a far more satisfying relationship.


5. Can you explain one thing that you do that other agents don't do that ensures I'm getting top dollar for my property? What is your average market time versus other agents' average market time?
  Marketing skills are learned, and sometimes a real estate professional's unique method of research and delivery make the difference between whether or not a property sells quickly. For example, an agent might research the demographics of your neighborhood and present to you a target market list for direct marketing purposes.


6. Will you give me names of past clients who will give references for you?


  Understand that, especially in the heavily regulated world of real estate, it can be increasingly difficult for a Realtor® to offer a performance guarantee. Sometimes you may find a Realtor® who is willing to guarantee that if you are dissatisfied in any way with their service they will terminate your listing agreement. If your Realtor® does not have a performance guarantee available in writing, it is not an indication that he or she is not committed to perform. Realtors® at Keller Williams Realty understand the importance of win-win business relationships, and that the Realtor® does not benefit if the client does not also benefit.




9. How would you develop pricing and marketing strategies for our home? Will you commit to the marketing strategy in writing?
  Pricing a home correctly is the single most important factor in determining if a home sells quickly, or at all. Although location and condition also effect the selling process, price is a primary factor. Access to all current property information is essential, and sometimes a pre-appraisal will help. Ask your agent where he or she obtained the information to create the market analysis, and whether your agent included For Sale By Owner homes, foreclosed homes, and bank-owned sales in that list.


10. What will you do and what will you not do to sell my home? Who determines where and when my home is marketed/ promoted? Who pays for your advertising?
  Ask your real estate agent to present to you a clear marketing and advertising budget, and how those dollars will be spent. Ask if there are other forms of advertisement/ marketing media that are also available but not mentioned in the budget/plan, and who pays for those. Request samples of the various media that your agent proposes (such as Internet Web sites, print magazines, and local publications).


Mary DeWitt 7014 W Glenmere