Looking for a Real Estate Agent? Ask the Right Questions

When looking for a real estate agent there are several things you can take into consideration. What is their style? When hiring a real estate agent you are essentially hiring someone to represent you throughout the process. Therefore, you probably want someone that represents you in a positive light.

What is their approach? Are you annoyed by merely standing in the room with this person? If so, then the prospect is probably not the best real estate agent for you. Although your agent needs to be confident, being cocky, self-seeking, and annoying will not get you very far.

Aside from appearance and approach, there are several things that you can do to help ensure that you find a great real estate agent to meet your needs and adequately represent you throughout the process. The most important thing is asking the right questions.

When trying to find a real estate agent ask the following three questions:

Question #1: Who can I contact to verify your reputation?

When considering hiring an agent, it is pertinent that you obtain contact information for other agents that can be a reference for the particular agent you are considering. These agents will be able to provide you with a variety of information that could help you make your decision. However, it is essential to remember that these agents may try to take your business and adopt you as their own, so avoid providing them with details such as your name, address, and property information.

Question #2: Have you been brought up on ethics violations?

You definitely want to hire an agent who is ethical, since they will be representing you in the process; therefore, asking a question about their ethics should be a key part of your decision. Although this information is not necessarily public knowledge, you can often determine the answer by their comfort with the question by taking note of their tone, body language, and word choice. If the agent appears uneasy about answering the question, fidgets a lot, or has a drastic change in their tone then you may need to consider looking for another real estate agent.

Question #3: Can you provide me with your listing history?

This is probably one of the easiest ways to determine if this agent will be a good fit. Obtaining a printout of the listing history will allow you to see how long a property tends to stay on the market before it is sold, which provides you with an estimate of how long your home will remain on the market with this agent. Furthermore, you can take this information and compare it to other agents in your area to help you determine which agent is better.

In the end, finding a great real estate agent is essential in successfully selling your home. However, most agents are slick talkers; therefore, enter into the real estate agent selection process armed with these three questions and do your research (call references!) before selecting an agent.