COMPATIBILITY CHECK: 5 QUESTIONS TO ASK A PROSPECTIVE LISTING AGENT

Knowing their experience, credentials and marketing plans can help seal the deal.

Selling a home can be an emotional process, but having the right agent helping can make a huge difference.

A skilled real estate agent can guide you through one of the largest financial transactions of your life. They can help navigate everything from marketing to negotiations. But it’s important to choose wisely – so you’ll be working with a real estate professional who’s compatible with your personality, understands your needs, and has the experience and drive to get the results you’re after.

When you’re considering an agent to list and market your home, consider asking these five questions.

1. “What’s your level of experience?”

There’s value in hiring a listing agent whose full-time career is real estate. RE/MAX agents average more experience than other agents. And they’re good at what they do – every 30 seconds, a RE/MAX agent helps someone find their perfect place.

2. “What are your credentials and certifications?”

Experience matters, of course, but so does education. Does the agent specialize in any areas of real estate that could help with your sale, like negotiation (look for RENE certification) or luxury homes (CLHMS)? RE/MAX leads the industry in professional designations, and agents have access to 24/7 learning through the brand’s RE/MAX University®.

3. “How well do you know the area?”

Has the agent spent time in the neighborhood? And, have they sold comparable homes in your price range? An agent with local knowledge is likely to effectively assess and price your property, and offer competitive tips on preparing the home to hit the market in the best way possible. Plus, the better the agent knows your community, the better they understand its current market conditions.

4. “What will you do to market my home?”

Effective marketing drives interest from prospective buyers, so you should know how your agent plans to market your home. RE/MAX agents have access to marketing tools that help them create high-quality, custom ad materials – including listing videos and digital promotions for social media.

5. “How long do your listings typically stay on the market?”

Depending on the urgency of your move, finding out the average days on market for your area, as well as for the agent’s other listings, can help you estimate the timeline of your sale.

You’ve made the first big decision – to sell your home. Now you have the next one – selecting the best agent among your options. The good news is that you have what you need to make the right choice.

Get started with the home-selling process by finding a compatible agent in the Gillette RE/MAX Office!