Selling your home is a large and sometimes complex undertaking. Knowing the right questions to ask will help you choose the right professional. There is a new very important question that every home seller should ask a real estate broker when selling. The traditional questions which are still very valuable are listed below.
- What is your experience?
- How do you plan on marketing my home?
- How will you communicate with me and how often?
- Are you a full time real estate agent?
- Do you have a copy of your resume?
- Do you have time for to work on the sale of my home?
The new question is "What are you doing differently this year to sell homes than last year?" This is a powerful questions for a Realtor. Their response will tell you how they view their craft. It will weed out the burned out agents, the uneducated newbie agents and the slap your home on MLS and hope for the best agents.
The uninspired agent will talk about the sign in your yard, the brochure or flier and the open houses. We are in a world where 98% of home buyers consult the internet for hours on their home search before viewing any homes. The vast a majority of buyers are on social media. 2015 was the first year more home searches were done on a phone than on a computer. A full marketing plan should cover all these areas and more. As well as what is happening right now.
For example, real estate agents used to put a sign rider on the front sign so home buyers could call in to get more info through a recording. Then the sign was for a QR code. Then the sign was a for an automatic text. As technology kept changing buyers kept changing. Buyers also became leery of these ploys as the became barraged with Realtor calls from their info being sold. All these things worked for a short while. Now buyers are using apps like Homesnap to get info quickly. Knowing your agent knows what works this year over last is imperative.
The uneducated or inexperienced realtors will mostly have a blank stare. It is not that these agents are bad. These agents have just not taken the time to go meetings, attend classes or obtain a mentor to educate themselves on the sale and marketing process. Websites like http://www.zillow.com/are constantly changing what will bring the most views by buyers. A true real estate professional is constantly learning the latest trick and techniques.
We live in an ever changing world. Partner with a real estate broker who is constantly push the boundaries and on the cutting edge. Check out my Quick Seller Tips and Videos.
