The Top 6 Questions You Should Ask Your Real Estate Agent

When listing your house on the market, one of the most important decisions you will have to make is what Real Estate Agent you want to list your property with. The right Real Estate Agent can make or break the experience for you. You need to start by getting to know the agents you are thinking of working with and how they operate. 

Here are some questions you should ask to ensure you find the right fit for you.

1. How long have you been in Real Estate? 

This question is a great way to establish a starting point for the conversation. It will give you an idea of their experience and how much knowledge they may have of the industry. 

Experienced Real Estate Agents can often provide the kinds of information and experience that you may not find in an online search. 

Those that have been in the industry longer will also have a bigger base of referrals for you to research from as well as stronger community connections for people like mortgage lenders or real estate photographers that you may need throughout the process. 

It is necessary to keep in mind that whilst experience is very important, so too is the attitude and personality of the agent. The benefits of an enthusiastic and passionate agent with less experience can often outweigh the benefits of an agent who is burnt out and no longer interested in doing the right thing for their clients. 

2. How do you plan on listing and marketing my property? 

Asking this question will give you a clear idea of how the agent plans on marketing your property. They should be able to provide you with answers to questions such as: 

• Where and how will my property be advertised both on and offline? 
• Do you have access to or recommendations for a professional Real Estate Photographer? 
• What are the marketing and commission costs? 
• How will you make my property stand out from others on the market?

If they enter the meeting unprepared or without sufficient responses regarding marketing and advertising it can possibly be a red flag and not a good fit. 

You want your agent to have a solid marketing plan that is tailored to the needs of your property. You don't want someone with the same cookie-cutter approach for all of their listings as each and every property is unique and a good real estate agent will realise that and market your property as such.

3. What sets you apart from other Agents?

There can often be a lot of choices when it comes to picking an agent, so asking this question can help you get a feel for how they differ from others in their field and what they offer over and above their competitors. 

These may be things such as 

• Good communication
• Negotiating skills
• Local knowledge  
• Trustworthy
• Determination
• Attention to detail 
• Enthusiasm 

This can help you see how they operate and if what they consider to be important is a good fit for you.

4. Do you specialise in selling a particular type of property?

Some agents may like to specialise in a particular type of property. It can be a very good idea to ask if this is the case with your potential agent. They may specialise in a particular type of listing such as 

• Price bracket 
• Suburb, area or location
• Type and style of property such as units or houses 

If your property does not fit their specialty then they may not have the right knowledge, skills or drive to get you the best deal. 

However, if your property falls into their specialty then they may be experts in that field and a great fit for you.

5. Do you have extensive knowledge of the local area?

Local knowledge is so important for a Real Estate Agent because potential buyers will more often than not have extensive questions they will want to ask about the area, especially if they are new to town.  These questions might vary from schooling options to future plans and potential developments in the area. The ability to be able to answer these questions is important.

A good agent will also be able to advise on a listing price that is in line for your property and that includes using local knowledge like being familiar with the area the property is located in. This can be the key to overpricing or underpricing a property. 

A good Real Estate Agent will be keeping track of the market and will be able to tell you how locations and suburbs are performing.

6. Do you work as part of a team? 

When working with a Real Estate agent you will want to know if you will be dealing with only them or if they work as part of a larger team. If they work with other team members, how do they fit into the picture and what are they like to deal with? 

Working with more than one agent can have benefits such as more knowledge and experience and you don’t need to wait on a specific individual to get answers to your questions. Of course, this is only if members of the team are on the same page, communicate effectively and work well together. 

No matter the situation you want to make sure that the agent or agents are working towards the common goal - the best outcome for the client. 

NXTGEN Property are local Real Estate Agents that pride themselves on their integrity, local knowledge and professionalism. If you need help listing your house on the market, we can help.