11 QUESTIONS To Help You Find a Real Estate Broker, an Agent or a Realtor that is a great for you!
How long have been a real estate agent? Are you a residential realtor or commercial realtor? Is this your full-time job?
How many homes did you sell last year? How many homes did your brokerage sell last year?
Can you elaborate on your education, certifications, designation or any specific courses you have taken to help enhance your real estate career?
Do you have any disciplinary actions?
How familiar are you with the neighborhood, location and the area? How familiar are you with the current market, days taking to sell a home and pricing?
Can you share the list price vs sold price variations between them and average days on market as well?
Can you elaborate on your marketing, traditional vs. modern, systems and plan?
How familiar are you with various providers for repairs, property insurance, home loans, utilities, title, etc.?
Can you help me understand how HOA works and how familiar are you with PID, PUD, MUD, etc.?
Can you please share few references regarding sales you had recently.
Last but not least, what types of communication will you utilize to help me during the process?
Buying a Home! 11 Questions to ask a real estate agent.
What is the timeframe in general when searching for a home from start to finish? How long will it take you to help me find a home?
What are the steps in buying a home? A to Z.
Can you share how many buyers you have helped in your career and/or recently? What designations do you hold?
When finding a home how will you search the right home “perfect” home for me? Do perfect homes exist?
In your expertise how can you help make a great offer vs. a good offer?
What can you do to help me not make mistakes when buying a home?
How familiar are you with a homebuying process, loans, classes, programs etc.?
Can you please share your strategy if we end up in a bidding war and how will you help me with my offer to get accepted or stand out?
How do offers work and what needs to be done before sending an offer?
In a perfect world how can you as my agent help me reach my goals in purchasing a perfect home?
Will you be my exclusive agent, represent only my interest when buying a home; and can you please go over all of the paperwork needed to move forward?
Selling a House! 11 Questions to ask a real estate agent.
Can you please elaborate on your marketing plan when selling a house?
What designations do you hold?
Can you please share your “sold” data, how many folks in your career have you helped to sell their house or houses?
What is the selling process for a house and Can you please help me understand from start to finish?
Please give me pointers on the most effective way I can sell my home and what can I do to help?
If possible can you please share best or most attractive things about my house and what is the least attractive as well?
How do can we have a proper game plan on moving forward with sale of my house.
Can you please explain the listing documents, paperwork, options, and compensations?
Will you be my exclusive agent, represent only my interest when selling my house, do you represent both buyer and sellers?
In regards to your marketing plan, how will you help me stage my house, photos, videos, floor plans, etc.?
Last but not lease can you please help me understand the local market, how familiar are you with my area and please share the data (CMA: Comparative Market Analysis)?
The 7 Signs – What makes a good agent vs a great agent?
Education – taking few courses just to pass the exams or doing continuous education, extra courses, understanding the changes in the market, getting extra knowledge, learning, training, knowing vs implementing, special skills, designation, etc.
Communication – Q & A, aggressive, responsive, understanding and proper skills sets a great agent apart from a good agent.
Negotiations – anyone can negotiate but a great agent knows the best way to help you, have the right skills, tools and knowledge to get the deal done while helping you save money!
Referrals – How do they perform, how are their reviews, references, a great agent will have good reputation and willing to help no matter what.
Sales – History of transactions, current business vs. past business.
Type of agent – Residential agent vs. Commercial agent. Exclusive Buyer Agent vs. Seller Agent. Experience being both or all. Ask the right questions. Know the agent you are dealing with.
Just Ask – Is the real estate agent, realtor or broker asking you as the buyer or seller, the right questions, understanding the needs, criteria, preferences, expectations, etc. If Not. Then Run! That agent is not a good fit for you.
THE SEVEN ASKS:
Can a buyer or seller work with various real estate agents at the same time? Best answer is No. Once you hire an agent that is an exclusive partnership and that is how the agents are compensated; otherwise many agents will be in line to get compensations for their time spent. The best way to move forward is hire an exclusive agent, understand how they work and get the help you need in a timely manner.
Can I have many realtors doing the house hunting for me? Best answer is NO. To be fair of their time, best way to move forward is to hire an exclusive agent and compensate them for their time and work done.
Can I hire more than one agent to help me sell my house? Best answer is NO. To be fair of their time, best way to move forward is to hire an exclusive agent and compensate them for their time and work done.
Can one real estate agent work different areas at the same time? Best answer is Yes. Most local agents are familiar with many areas close by but to be fair if you feel like the distance is too much and an agent can’t perform then best to have a talk, find a local agent for an area that seems a good fit. Always ask the agent if they are comfortable or not, they can always refer another great agent for an area that you would like to buy or sell in.
Can I just interview any agent or how many can I interview at the same time? Best answer is Yes. You can interview as many agent you like to, but keep in mind, too many can create confusion, best to make a short list of 5 at most, perfect way is to get a referral, ask your family or friends for a great recommendation on agents. In short, yes you can interview multiple agents at the same time and find the one that best fit for you.
How much Money Do I need to Buy a Home? Best answer is, Lets talk to a lender! Best way to move forward is to connect with great local lender and ask your Realtor for recommendations as they know plenty good ones. The lender will go over the downpayment needed, closing costs, fees, loan process, timeline, etc.
As a First Time Homebuyer what benefits can I get? Or Why should anyone buyer a home? Best answer is talk to a local lender, the loan office can go over the various programs which can help you understand how to move forward. Lenders have many programs that can help a buyer get a great loan, type of loan needed, loan program that best suit the buyer. Lender can also help prepare buyer to buy a home, 30 days, 60 days, 6 months, or 1 year etc. a great local lender knows how to get it done! Lender can also explain tax benefits of owning a home or ask a CPA as well. Lenders know how to help a buyer understand affordability
