Buying or selling a home is a lengthy and complex process. It’s essential to find a realtor to represent you and serve your best interests. However, not all realtors are created equal. Ensure you’re hiring the right person to represent you by preparing questions to ask your real estate agent. Since this is such an important decision, you must take care when choosing a buyer’s or seller’s agent. The following are some of the questions to ask when selecting a real estate agent. These will help you know more about the realtor, their specialization, and whether their services are suitable for your needs.
Questions to Ask When Selecting a Real Estate Agent
Whether it’s about their expertise, marketing plan, or experience, there are certain important questions to ask your real estate agent before hiring them. Ask the following questions to ensure you’re making the right decision.
1. How Long Have You Been Practicing, and Are You Licensed?
One of the most important questions to ask when selecting a real estate agent is about their experience and accreditation. There is no substitute for working with a licensed and accredited realtor. If a real estate agent is licensed and reputable, they will be more than willing to offer proof. If you don’t see a license, consider it a red flag, and look at other real estate agencies. All the real estate agents at Robert DeFalco Realty are licensed and experienced.
Additionally, a real estate agent’s experience can tell you a lot about them. Someone who has been in the business for some time will know which problems arise and how to avoid them. On the other hand, a realtor who doesn’t have much experience may be harder to work with and may have fewer professionals in their network. That being said, if a newer realtor has great references, they may be able to get you a great deal.
2. Do You Work Full-Time as a Realtor?
Many realtors have other jobs and pursue real estate as a part-time job. Always ensure you hire a real estate agent who works full-time. This makes sure they’re able to dedicate time to you and respond to you quickly. For example, if a realtor only works on weekends, they may not be able to show you houses on the market before they’re sold. You may miss out on valuable opportunities.
Additionally, since market conditions and trends can change quickly, a full-time agent who is devoted to real estate will be abreast of these changes.
3. Have You Helped Buyers and Sellers in This Area?
It’s important to work with a realtor who is familiar with the area you’re looking to buy in or the area your current home is located. Many buyers and sellers forget the importance of experience in a particular area. One of the essential questions to ask your real estate agent is if they know the area well and how many homes they’ve bought or sold there in the past year.
This ensures they know the area’s trends, the price ranges for the area, and the facilities and amenities you can take advantage of.
4. Can You Provide References?
One of the main questions to ask your real estate agent is about references. Most realtors come prepared and offer references at the initial meeting. However, if this isn’t the case, always ensure you ask them for references so you can get an idea of how well they serve their clients. This will give you insight into the realtor’s communication, professionalism, and whether or not clients have had positive experiences with them. If a real estate agent cannot provide references, be wary of working with them.
You can use the references they provide as additional data by also checking online reviews. In addition to checking their website, also make sure to check third-party websites for unbiased reviews.
5. How Many Clients Are You Representing Right Now?
While there’s no exact right answer to this question, you should be able to gauge whether or not the real estate agent can devote enough time to you. If they have too few clients, this may indicate their quality of work. However, if they have too many clients, they may not be able to give your case the attention it needs.
Additionally, you can ask about how many of their clients are buying or selling properties. The ratio will show you their area of expertise. However, an even split can tell you they’re well-experienced in both buying and selling properties.
6. Do You Have a Professional Network I Can Benefit From?
Yet another one of the questions to ask your real estate agent is about their network. Many people forget this, but the right realtor can open a lot of doors and provide you with useful contacts. This includes reputable real estate lawyers, inspectors, staging companies, contractors, moving companies, etc.
7. How Do You Plan to Market My Property?
This is an essential question to ask your real estate agent if you’re selling a home. The right real estate agent will be careful to explain the ins and outs of their marketing strategy to you. Since you’re paying them for their expertise, they should mention whether they plan to host an open house, assist you with staging and photography, advertise online, etc. A good seller’s agent must be prepared to answer this question when in an interview.
Buy and Sell Properties With Robert DeFalco Realty
Buying or selling a property can be nerve-wracking. This is especially true if it’s your first time doing so. That’s why it’s essential to have an experienced real estate agent by your side to guide you through the process. The experienced buyer’s agents and seller’s agents at Robert DeFalco Realty will be with you through every step of the process and ensure you get the best possible deal. Visit our New York or Staten Island offices or call us at 718-987-9700 to get in touch with a realtor. You can also get in touch with us via our website here.
