When I'm talking with prospective clients, I often ask how they plan to choose the real estate agent to represent them. Often, they have been recommended to me directly by someone they trust and don't plan to interview other agents. However, occasionally people hear about our team by googling "real estate experts in Boise" or other such terms and don't have a personal connection with us.
Many times folks either indicate they aren't sure how they'll choose their agent or that they'll choose based on how comfortable they feel with the agent or how much they like them.
While I agree it's important to have good rapport and communication with your agent, it's also important to know they are competent and can help you sell your house for the most amount of money, or get you the dream house you've been looking for!
Below are some questions you can ask prospective agents to help determine their competency.
- How long have you been in residential real estate sales?
- Is it your full-time job?
How many homes have you sold in your career?- Are you a solo agent or do you work on a team?
- How many days does it take you to sell the average home?
- How close to the initial asking prices of the homes you've sold were the final sale prices?
- What types of specific marketing systems and approaches will you use to sell my home?
- Do you have a 24-hour information number where buyers can get voice-recorded or texted information any time of the day or night?
- Will you hire a professional photographer to shoot my home?
- Do you provide a free consultation with a professional designer to help stage my home?
- Can you recommend service providers who can help me obtain a mortgage, make home repairs, and help with other things I need done? Do you have the ability to pay for these items upfront and have me reimburse you at closing?
- How long have you lived in the area? Can you provide detailed information to buyers about the community, schools, neighborhoods, parks, etc.?
What’s your business philosophy? - What type of support and supervision does your brokerage office provide to you?
- How will you keep me informed about the process of my transaction? How frequently?
- Could you please give me the names and phone numbers of your three most recent clients?
- Could you please send me a link to the MLS listings for the three properties you sold most recently in our area?
- What are the top three things that separate you from your competition?
- What kind of guarantee do you offer?
- What haven’t I asked that I need to know?
And always remember, if you or your friends or family have real estate needs, we are your Boise, Idaho and North End real estate experts. If you are interested in searching for your next dream home, please click here.
