Buying (or selling) a house is one of the biggest financial transactions that you’ll ever have to make, so it makes sense that you work with the best real estate agent you can find. However, because there are so many agents out there, it can be overwhelming trying to find the right realtor.
Well, look no further because we have some tips for interviewing a realtor over a brief phone call.
Tip 1: Get the basics out of the way
Within the first five minutes of your phone call, you’re going to want to learn the basics about them. The basics will give you a sense of their professionalism, how well they know the area, their experience and workload.
Questions you’ll want to ask include:
- How long have you been a licensed real estate agent?
- How familiar are you with the area?
- How many clients do you work with at any given time?
- What makes you stand out from other agents in the area?
Tip 2: Understanding their business practices
During the next five minutes, you’re going to want to dig deeper to get an idea of what they can do for you. It doesn’t matter if you’re buying a house or selling one, the name of the game for this portion is what kind of results you’ll get if you work with them.
Questions you’ll want to ask include:
- Will I be working with you directly or do you work with a team?
- (If selling) What is your marketing plan for both online and in-person advertising?
- (If selling) What kind of prep work or staging do you typically recommend?
- Do you have a robust network of contractors, inspectors, and other professionals?
- What is the best way to reach you and how often will we be in touch?
- What challenges do you think we will run into along the way?
Tip 3: Sealing the deal
Now that you’ve spent ten minutes (or more if they’re chatty), you probably have a decent idea of their expertise and work ethic. In the final leg of your interview, you’re going to ask questions about sealing the deal and the terms of your working relationship.
Questions you’ll want to ask include:
- What guarantees can you give me?
- How long can I review documents before I have to sign them?
- What is your fee and how flexible is it?
- Do you have any references from previous clients that I could contact?
- If I want you to be my agent, what do we do to seal the deal and get things rolling?
Finding the best real estate agent is key
Hiring a real estate agent is the first and most important part of any real estate transaction. Sure, you may have numerous real estate offices in your area with highly qualified agents eager to sign you on as a client… But not all of those agents are going to work in your best interest or have a personality that meshes well with yours.
Don’t get us wrong, you want to hire a real estate agent who has a stellar reputation for getting houses sold above asking in a short time or who can negotiate a hefty price reduction; but if they rub you the wrong way during your interview, why hire them? You want to find a qualified agent but also an agent that isn’t going to make the entire experience a painful one!
Take your time and interview as many real estate agents as you want. They’re going to be helping you with a huge financial transaction so you want to work with someone you trust and have confidence in!