Things to ask your Realtor when Selling your home

   Selling your home can quickly feel like a full time job. It is not as easy as most people think. You cannot simply put a "for sale" sign in the yard and POOF! your home is sold and you have money. The truth of the matter is that the real estate market is a vastly changing business place. Not to mention finding the right parties (attorney, title company, appraisers, inspectors, repairmen etc) can be hard, and who can you trust? Working with a Realtor takes the guess work out of the equation.

   Here are a few things that you should ask your Realtor when selling your home:

1. How long have you been a Realtor in this area? 
     Do not be afraid to ask questions like this! Remember, you are interviewing them for the job, and that job is to sell your home for the highest possible price, with the least amount of obstacles.

2. What are homes like mine selling for?
      This is a REALLY important one to ask. If the Realtor does not come to your home with a CMA "in hand" and prepared to discuss this with you, odds are they will NOT be the person to best help you. A CMA is a Comparative Market Analysis.

3. Is this area growing or declining?
      Again, this is something that an experienced Real Estate professional should be able to answer pretty quick. If you get a "one-liner" answer like; "Its a sellers market..." ask a little more in depth questions. Why? Is it a sellers market...When? Did it become that way? What? Is the outlook for this area? 

4. Do you work alone or with a Team?
      Sometimes when an agent works alone, it is easy to get overwhelmed. Trying to manage multiple closings at one time is a lot to juggle and can sometimes mean the response time to your questions and needs slow down-and can even stop. Working with a team means that each party involved has a designated position, which opens up time, which means your questions are addressed in a timely matter. Afterall, you are the most important part of the transaction.

5. How will my home be marketed?
      We love this question! This means that you have a sincere interest in the how's and why's of the home selling process. A well qualified agent will have a Seller's Packet for you upon entering your home outlining what the marketing plan is for your home. Simply listing a house on the MLS does not mean that a home will sell itself. 

6. What experience do  you have with homes like mine?
        Not all Realtors are created equally. Some tend to work exclusively with foreclosures, others with million-dollar properties. Choose someone who has the most amount of experience with homes in your price bracket. Another great question to ask is how many homes have they sold in the last 6 months, year, career...do not be afraid to ask. Your home is your biggest investment and deserves to be handled with expertise and care.