Deciding to sell your home is a very big decision. After you know that you want to list your home on the market, the next big decision that you will have to make is hiring a real estate broker to sell your house for you. Working with a great real estate broker when you sell your house can make a huge difference in how long your house is on the market as well as how much money you make from the sale, so it is always in your best interest to take your time and meet with several brokers before you sign a contract. Before hiring a real estate broker, it is always a good idea to ask these questions:
How Much Do You Think I Should List My Home For?
One of the very first things you should ask a prospective real estate broker is how much he or she thinks your home should be listed for. A good broker may be able to provide a ballpark estimate during your initial meeting but should not suggest an exact price until he or she performs an analysis on comparable sold properties. This type of report looks at similar homes in your community that have recently sold, and this information will determine what is a fair listing price that will work well in the current real estate market.
How Will You Market My Home?
A great real estate broker does so much more than just post an online home listing when your home is for sale. A motivated broker will work hard on your behalf and market your home as much as possible in order to get it sold in a timely manner. If you're interested in hiring a specific real estate broker, take the time to ask him or her how he or she would market your home. It is a good sign if he or she is immediately able to explain a variety of marketing tools, such as open houses, websites, and social media, that will be used to advertise your home for sale.
How Many Homes Have You Sold in the Last Year?
Finding out how many homes a real estate broker has sold in the past year can tell you a lot about his or her skills and experience. I can also help you get a better idea of whether the person who you are interviewing works as a real estate broker part-time or full-time. It is in your best interest to hire a broker who has a proven track record of selling a good amount of homes in your area.
