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You’re sitting face-to-face with a real estate agent who’s eager to sell your home in the Hudson Valley. They tell you how they got into the business, highlight their relevant experience, and mention a couple of recent sales.
Then they ask if you have any questions for them. And you can’t think of a thing.
Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Below are the three questions you should always ask a real estate agent before you choose them to put your house on the market.
“What can you tell me about this area?”
It would be great if you found an agent who lives in your community, or even in your neighborhood. But what’s more important is that they know the area inside and out. They should be able to explain the local real estate market and its particular challenges. They should know how highly the schools are rated and whether they have any special programs. And, of course, they should know how the property taxes compare to nearby towns.
These are all questions that potential buyers will have, so your agent should know the area well enough to answer off the top of their head. The last thing you want is for them to have to say, “Let me get back to you on that.”
A few great follow-up questions: What’s the biggest advantage of selling in this area? Is there anything that makes it more of a challenge for home sales?
What would your plan for selling my house be?
When the agent is touring your house for the first time, the gears should start turning. Before they are done, they probably will have an idea about the best way to market your house, whether it’s a series of well-publicized open houses or a great social media campaign.
Any agent can list your house. It doesn’t take a lot of experience to write a description or take a few photos. You want build on these basics. They should understand your house’s strong points and use them in a sales campaign. Do you have a stunning great room or a view of the river? They should immediately understand that you need professional photography, or even video, to show it off to potential buyers.
A few great follow-up questions: What’s my house’s biggest selling point? What features will appeal most to buyers in this area? What will you do to emphasize them?
What should the asking price of my house be?
Of course you want to know what they think the asking price for your house should be. Don't expect an answer on the spot, rather let them take the time do some research and get back you. Their answer to this question tells you a lot about whether they will be the right agent for you. Ask them to do a comparative market analysis (CMA) for you so that you can see comparable sales in order to better understand their suggested listing price.
We always recommend that sellers meet with at least three agents before deciding on the one to put their home on the market. Each agent’s answer to this question shouldn’t be too far off from the others.
It might sound enticing when an agent suggests a significantly higher asking price, that’s not necessarily a good thing. A listing price that’s too high could lead to your house sitting on the market for so long that potential buyers wonder if there’s a problem with it.
A few great follow-up questions: Are there any repairs or renovations I could do to increase the value of my house? Is there anything I can do to improve my home’s curb appeal?
These questions give you some important information about an agent’s experience and qualification. But they will also offer you some insight into what it’s like to work alongside the agent. If they ask questions, take notes, and approach the sale as a collaborative effort, you’ll know a lot about them.
