Last week we shared tips on how NOT to find your agent. So this week we thought we’d turn the tables and share a list of questions to ask the agents on your shortlist. If you think that sounds like you’re conducting a job interview, you would be correct. Finding the right agent to sell your most significant financial asset should be taken as seriously as finding the right person for a job if you owned a business or was responsible for hiring at your work.
6 questions to ask your shortlisted agent
1. How will you target the right buyers for my property?
There’s more to targeting buyers than advertising alone. While a professionally prepared tailored marketing campaign that targets the right buyers is vital, your agent should also be actively contacting buyers looking for a property like yours. Unfortunately too many agents wait for a buyer to come to them.
2. How do you calculate what my property’s worth & can you substantiate the figure?
Many people are lured by the promise of a high price without being told how that price was calculated and how it will be achieved. Ask an agent to explain how they arrived at a figure when appraising your home to ensure it’s not simply a number designed to draw you in. Nothing will damage the integrity of a sale faster than a home that’s unrealistically priced. It’s important to ensure your agent prices your property in line with current market values to avoid it becoming stale on the market.
3. How will you achieve the best sales result for me?
When it comes to achieving the best possible price there are 3 key factors to look for – attention to detail (on everything from property presentation, marketing and local knowledge to follow-up communication); highly skilled negotiation skills (why not put the agent to the test by role playing a negotiation with them); and last but not least, friendly, professional service, without the pressure (buyers see straight through the ‘pushy salesperson spiel’).
4. Can you show me the results & testimonials from your last 3 sales?
If an agent can’t show you recent sales results and testimonials (not results from 3 years ago) then how can you be sure they have what it takes to achieve top dollar in the current market?
5. How often will I hear from you? And how do you communicate with prospective buyers?
There’s nothing more frustrating than an agent that fails to keep you fully informed during the sales campaign. You should never have to ask for information. Ask each prospective agent how he or she intends to communicate with you and with prospective buyers of your property. You may be surprised to learn how many buyers fail to be contacted after an inspection, even in a tough market!
6. How many properties do you look after at any one time?
How can you expect to receive personalised attention and 100% commitment from an agent who juggles a huge number of listings at any one time? You don’t want to be seen as simply a means to achieving a sales target for the month!
We feel confident we tick all these boxes and would be more than happy to sit down with you to answer these and any other questions you may have. Contact us for an obligation free chat any time.