If you could ask a real estate agent only one question

10 years ago

If you were a home seller interviewing real estate agents to list your home and you could only ask them one question, what would you ask them to assess their expertise?

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Comments (9)

c9pilot
10 years ago
If I could only ask them one question, I wouldn't use them.
maddielee
10 years ago
We asked, "why should we list with you?"

Then we sat back and let them answer. We listed with the person who answered that she would sell our house. She did. Within 2 days.

ML
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sylviatexas: "Representation & procuring cause aren't the same thing. Procuring cause is getting a buyer for a property or a property for a buyer. Representation is representing the client's best interests. HaHaHaHaHa. OF COURSE it isn't the same thing! That's the point that I was making, lol! It was you who was implying that the builder wouldn't let the buyer have representation when all along the issue was the builder wasn't going to pay the agent because the agent wasn't the procuring cause for the transaction. Nice spin. And speaking of spin..... sylviatexas: "If I started negotiating with a builder on my own & felt that I was in over my head & the builder told me I couldn't bring my Realtor, I'd look for another property." Let's change your example ever so slightly without altering the basic concept. Let's say instead of looking at a new house you're looking at a resale. Same circumstance except instead of dealing with a builder's sales office, you're dealing with the seller's listing agent. Okay, now let's get back to your example. You're negotiating with the listing agent on your own and feel that you're in over your head and want to bring in your own real estate agent to negotiate for you. Are you seriously suggesting that the listing agent should now allow the buyer to use his own agent and pay that agent half the commission? Hmmmmmm?? I didn't think so. And the reason why? Let's all say it again: Because the buyer's agent would not have been the procuring cause for the transaction. It is really not that difficult a concept.
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In a lot of places the atty's do the title work also so as long as you use their office for the titloe work then they will likely review your contract for free in exchange for writing in the contract that they must use your title co. With that said call and ask them if they'll review offers and read/write sales contracts for a fsbo for free. Ask for experienceb and all that. Interview at least 3 and have one as a backup. Atty's and agents don't serve the same purpose. The agent is to market your home, not the atty. Ask any prospective agent what they can do to help you and how they are going to market the home. If all they're going to do is stick a sign in your yard well.... you can do that yourself. I would hesitate to use the MLS myself if going fsbo. Agents typically don't rush to show fsbo homes anyway. Maybe if it was a hot mkt.
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It doesn't matter who physically showed the property. What does matter is that it was shown to people while it was listed. It could be shown by another agent in that time period, or as in your case, shown by you. That is called an exclusive right to sell agreement in real estate lingo. The efforts of your agent in listing the property, marketing, signage etc. were the reason people knew about it, and you agreed to pay your agent for selling to ANYONE that saw the property in that time period. Since we don't know what your contract specifically says with this agent, we cannot answer your question. One note though, how long this time period lasts is negotiable in the listing contract before you sign it. Some contracts might say 30 days and some 365 days. Typically this clause does not apply if you list with another agent. Again, read your listing contract and specifically the exclusive right to sell clause. The answer is there. BTW--in my area, if it's a larger piece of land, it's not uncommon for a seller to be present during a showing. They know the property like no one else does unless it is staked. I'm guessing you live adjacent to the listed property; saw people stop and look; and offered to show it to them. In that situation the agent would have had no opportunity to actually show it.
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Well, I had a contract and during inspection (and subsequent research under FOIA) found serious issues with the property. Issues that the seller (and most likely the realtor) was aware of. I walked, but sure enough, the property sold soon thereafter. The property next door (same seller/same problems) sold a year later for a higher price without the problems being addressed. I know, I looked at it again. I was ticked off, but other than a complaint about the realtor, there wasn't much I could do.
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dabunch
10 years ago
I would ask about his/her "networking circle" and how quickly they respond to calls or inquiries.

Anyone can list your house. You can list it yourself with a FSBO broker paying the buying agent 2-3%. Although, not ALL agents utilize all the possible websites to market your property. It costs money, so some scrimp, and therefore your house may show up only on the MLS and couple of other sites.

They all work hard, and all promise to sell your property. Some will claim that they have a buyer in order to get your listing...

To me, an agent who is liked in the community and one who has a lot of friends, and one who is active in the community has a larger buyer pool....friends of friends, fundraiser friends... They have to be responsible (answer calls promptly, keep their word), a go-getter, an outgoing person with PEEPS ;)

If you try to reach them and it takes a while for them to return your call, do NOT employ them. That tends to be more of an irresponsible personality.
RooseveltL
10 years ago
What technique or method would you use which you have seen other agents employ? And which technique/method would you never use common for other agents?

OR what was your toughest sell/purchase (elaborate)?
I think the 2nd question is important and it would indicate their experience and how much fight they have on behalf of their client.
scarlett2001
10 years ago
I would ask their detailed marketing strategy in relation to the special needs of my property or neighborhood. We interviewed one who did nothing except list houses on the internet, no open houses for the public or realtors, no local newspaper ads, nothing else.

She also was not familiar with the neighborhood, which could also be your one question, how can they get realistic comps if they don't know the city?
ncrealestateguy
9 years ago
"only listed the home on the internet"...
That is the place where most serious buyers start their home search.
ryseryse_2004
9 years ago
Does the Realtor live in the neighborhood?
violetwest
9 years ago
how many of your listings have sold in the past year, and what was the average turn around time?
rob333 (zone 7b)
9 years ago
Where do they live? That's a great question, ryseryse. My agent lived in my neighborhood and loved it so much, she showed it off well.

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If you could ask a real estate agent only one question

Comments (9)

c9pilot

maddielee

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dabunch

RooseveltL

scarlett2001

ncrealestateguy

ryseryse_2004

violetwest

rob333 (zone 7b)

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