Questions To Ask A Realtor When Selling For The First Time

You have thoroughly enjoyed your home, but it’s time to sell. If this is the first time you are selling a home you will have some questions. Perhaps you and your wife purchased the home just a few years ago…and then she landed her dream job on the west coast and working remotely isn’t an option. Perhaps you and your husband have lived in the home all your life and are ready to consolidate and simplify. When you are ready to sell you will want to work with a realtor. You will have a lot of questions. There are a number of questions to ask a realtor when selling for the first time. 

Do I need a real estate agent? 

Yes, you do! A seller’s agent will have the resources and experience that will both prove valuable in saving you time and money in the sale of your home. A qualified seller’s agent will be licensed and have access to the MLS (multiple listing service) to market your house and attract buyers from all around the world. They will have a proven marketing strategy, with an exemplary rate of success, satisfied clients, and excellent communication skills to answer all the questions you ask (and the ones you might not think to ask). 

How many clients are you working with? 

Your seller’s agent will definitely have multiple clients. It is a good sign they are professional and good to work with. Additionally, you will want to ask if you will be working primarily with the individual agent or communicating with a larger team. When the agent is working on marketing several listings at the same time they will often be working with an assistant and other team members. You will want to know who you will be communicating and working with on a daily basis. 

How will we communicate? 

Text, email, or phone calls? You may have a preference. A professional seller’s agent and their team from CENTURY 21 Action Plus Realty will be readily available to you and respect your communication style of preference. 

What is your rate of success? 

When inquiring about your agent’s rate of success you will want to know about their sale-to-list ratio and how it compares to the local market. A 100% sale-to-list ratio indicates the home sold for what it was listed for, a 95% sale-to-list ratio indicates it sold less than what it was listed for, and a 105% sale-to-list indicates it sold for more than what it was listed for. Comparing the agent’s average sale-to-list ratio with the average of the local market will let you know how they are performing in the market. 

What is your strategy? 

A professional and qualified seller’s agent will have a well defined marketing strategy to sell your home. This will include professional photography, home staging, an MLS listing service, a custom website, and more. Your agent will be keyed in on the most effective ways to sell your home in your local market. Ask your agent to review marketing materials from their previous sales.

How long will this take? 

There are no guarantees on how long your house will be listed before an offer is made. The average home has been reported to sit on the market for 22 days, but this can vary dramatically by location (and the ever changing housing market). Once an offer has been made and accepted most home sales require an additional 30-45 days for closing. Your seller’s agent will have a good feel for the local market they represent and offer insight into the time it will take to sell your home. 

CENTURY 21 Action Plus Realty has offices strategically located in Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex, and Mercer counties. When you are ready to sell your home in Central New Jersey, contact us. We look forward to working with you.