Monday Market Update: 5 Critical Questions To Ask When Selling Your Home

Selling your home is a HUGE decision, only to be followed by an even bigger decision of who your listing agent will be. There is far more to choosing a listing agent than just who claims they can get you the highest price for the lowest cost (and if you think selecting the ‘professional’ with the lowest commission is the way to go – we need to talk!). Check out these questions below from Realtor.com which serve as a great starting point when interviewing agents. We encourage you to read the article ‘10 Crucial Questions to Ask a Realtor When Selling Your Home’ in full as well.

1) What are your credentials? Beyond having the required state license and belonging to any local associations, always ask if the potential agent has any designations; agents who earn these designations have met required educational and/or experiential components and have an expanded skill set. Earning designations is also a sign of an agent’s commitment to furthering their own education, and a growth mindset is key to success in this everchanging industry. Examples of designations include Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES)®, Certified international property Specialist (CIPS)®, Sellers Representative Specialist (SRS)®, Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR)® and more! *In full disclosure, I am also a National Association of Realtors® Instructor for these courses, which has given me firsthand insight into the benefits.

2) Do you specialize in this neighborhood? Every region has its micro markets, but perhaps none vary quite so much as those dispersed throughout Silicon Valley. Just because someone works in the greater Bay Area does not mean that they have experience in the area you wish to sell in. If any agent has not sold a home in your neighborhood in the last 12 months, be sure to ask how they plan to educate themselves on the market trends specific to your locale.

3) How many sales did you close last year? This is an important question – with a caveat. Quantity does not always equal quality. NARۮ has reported that in 2019, the average Realtor® sold 12 homes a year. Note that there are many hobbyists or part timers who may sell 1-2 homes a year. As you can imagine, there is a huge difference in someone who is in real estate as a full-time career vs. someone with a license to use on occasion. Having an agent that is consistently and regularly active in the market in which your home is located is key. Also be wary of ‘machine teams’ in which you may see a very high volume of sales but may not get the personalized attention you deserve.

4) How do you arrive at the listing price? The ‘estimate’ you see on Zillow, Redfin or Trulia is NOT how any agent prices a home and should not be the basis for any home price you are considering. The price that like homes have sold for, the condition of your actual home, the prep work you choose to do and the price the market will bear all play important roles in what that listed price will be. Realtor.com® states that ‘a property that is priced too high will languish, eventually turning off potential buyers; but a home priced too low might leave money on the table.’ Pricing a home is both a science and a strategy.

5) How will we communicate? Once you start the process of listing your home, you will have questions. Concerns. Ideas. You will talk to your agent more than your best friend and maybe even your partner. 😉 If you only want to talk but your agent prefers to text or vice versa, those communications are going to be the source of endless frustration. If your agent can talk at night but you only have time in the morning, that can be another point of contention. Ideally, an agent should flex to meet your needs. However, providing your expectations up front and ensuring your listing agent can meet them is paramount to a successful and less-stress transaction.

Want to know our personal tips on when an agent and seller are a fit? What marketing musts any agent should use to promote your home? Curious about the #1 reason why we have seen a seller not love their listing agent? Just ask: bobbi@bobbidecker.com.

All my best,

Bobbi Decker
DRE#00607999

Broker Associate
650.346.5352 cell
650.577.3127 efax
www.bobbidecker.com
NAR Instructor….“Designations Create Distinctions”
CIPS, SRS, ABR, CRS, SRES, GRI, CLHMS, REI, AHWD, RSPS, MSLG

Bobbi Decker & Associates fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. For more information, please visit: http://portal.hud.gov/