Five Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent

You've decided to sell your home. You think you will be able to get top dollar because of the features of the home such as the barn doors with sliding door hardware, the wood floors, and the amazing theater room. 

Before you hire a real estate agent, you might want to ask questions regarding several things, one of which is their client list. You want an agent who will put your best interests first and give you the highest level of service. 

You also want to make sure the agent knows all about the homes in your neighborhood or area before starting a real estate transaction with them. An agent familiar with the houses in your area tends to bring a certain level of professionalism to their business. They will be able to give you direct and honest answers when you ask them questions.

1. Are you a full-service agent?

One major question to ask them before hiring them is if they offer full service. Full-service real estate agents offer home buying services from start to finish, including providing the home buyer pre-approval from banks and securing the best rates. All of this is done by an agent. 

If you're an investor and not coming in as a buyer, you will only get the agent that represents your best interest. You might want to avoid a mortgage broker or "buyer's agent" who is not a full-service agent because they may not provide an all-around home buying experience.

2. How many years have you been a licensed agent?

Your second question to ask them before you hire them is how many years have they been in the business. A good agent will accurately estimate how many years of experience they have. If their number is under five, it's probably best if you avoid using them because you're getting an unproven and inexperienced agent. 

If their number is over five, you can trust them to provide you with quality service, strong knowledge of the industry, as well as a list of clients with impressive testimonials. Having too much experience can sometimes happen because they are no longer hungry to get business.

3. How can I find out how good a job you have done in the past?

After you have requested an agent from your local real estate office, you might want to talk to past clients of that same agent. They should give you an accurate account of the services provided and how satisfied they were with the quality of service. 

If the agent you have been assigned doesn't have many years of experience, and if they have a record of not providing quality service, it might be best to choose not to use them. 

If you are worried about a previous client talking negatively about the agent, it's okay to ask if they can speak on behalf of their previous clients. This way, you can get a more accurate account of the agent's past quality of service.

4. What is your success rate?

A good agent should be able to provide you with the percentage of homes that they had sold when they were working as a real estate agent. If they cannot give you an accurate estimate or don't even know, it may be best to avoid that person altogether. You want someone who will provide an exact figure from the beginning because you don't need to waste time trying to convince them that they are not doing a good job. You don't want an agent who doesn't know how to sell homes.

5. What do you charge for your services?

The last question to ask the agents before you hire them is what their fees are. Your real estate agent should provide you with the exact price upfront so you won't be surprised by an incorrect bill from the closing table. 

Some agents will give you a flat rate, and then others will charge you a percentage of the home's selling price. If your agent charges a flat rate, you won't be surprised by any additional costs. Any due fees should be outlined in the contract you sign before they begin working with you. Make sure the agent is willing to stick with you for a long time so you can save money on your monthly mortgage payments.

The questions asked in this article will help you by helping with your decision to hire a new real estate agent. Most importantly, learning about the different things these questions are used for will benefit you greatly. 

Last, you should be prepared to ask the right questions to get the best experience possible with real estate agents. Do your homework and be aware of problems that might arise and how the agent will handle them.