Are you in the market to buy or sell a home? If so, it’s important to work with a qualified real estate agent. However, before you hire an agent, it’s important to ask them some questions.
This will help you determine if they are the right fit for your needs. It will also help you make informed decisions about your home sale or purchase. Here are 24 questions you need to ask your real estate agent.
Questions to ask a real estate agent before working with them
1. What is your experience in real estate with this specific type of property?
The start of the conversation should address the experience of your agent with the property type you’re purchasing. If they have no prior experience working with residential properties, it may be a potential risk down the line.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t work with a new agent. On the contrary, there are quite a few of them that had extensive training and can deliver high-quality service.
Home buying can be a stressful experience but finding the right agent will make your home purchase smooth and easy. They should know about all the different contracts you need for buying property as well legal obligations that come along with it.
2. Do you have any references from past clients?
Before going to a new restaurant, you probably check their recent reviews. If you were hiring a new employee, you’d probably check their references. When working with a new real estate agent, invest time and effort to find out their references too.
You can check their social media profile, like Facebook or LinkedIn account. You can also ask for testimonials from their previous clients. This can establish if that real estate agent is the right choice for you. It will also help you establish the groundwork for your professional relations during your home buying journey.
3. How familiar are you with the neighborhoods in this area?
It’s essential to work with a real estate agent who truly knows the neighborhood where you want to buy a home. Your agent should understand what the area’s strengths and weaknesses are.
Check if there are schools in the area, especially if you have or planning to have children. You can also assess the nearest hospitals, shops, malls, and other establishments that are crucial for your family.
Don’t forget to check the accessibility of the location, how the traffic is and if the noise from it is high or low. A great location is vital if you’re planning to secure your investment for the future.
4. What are the real estate agent fees?
Understanding how your agent is compensated before entering into a relationship with them will ensure that you are aware of any hidden costs or fees. Buyers typically do not pay commission fees, but this may change depending on what kind of real estate transaction it involves.
When it comes to commissions, the average percentage is 5%. However, this can vary with each agent so you should always ask before making any agreements. The fee could end up being a large sum if not checked properly.
5. Which lenders do you work with regularly?
Home-buying is a huge investment, and you want to make sure that your purchase goes smoothly. If you are buying your home through a loan, it’s crucial to get the right rates from accredited and reliable lenders. Your agent might already know someone at one of these lending companies or banks.
Otherwise, they will recommend an ideal match based on criteria such as location, size, and budget needs. In any case, real estate agents can have an extensive network that you can use to buy your dream home.
6. What’s the ratio of buyers to sellers that you represent?
To give yourself the best chance at finding a good agent, it’s important to know what kind of balance they have between buyers and sellers. This will help you gauge their experience and expertise too.
There isn’t one magic number. However, if an answer lines up with your needs then that might point towards someone who knows exactly where they stand when representing clients like yourself.
7. Will I be working with you individually, or with a team?
Getting a real estate agent to help you buy your dream home is beneficial in many ways. Before you get into a relationship with an agent, check if you will be working with them directly. Some experienced agents have a support team to be able to handle a larger number of clients.
This way they can look after all their clients with full attention while keeping their schedule organized. In the end, make sure that the agent and their support team can really understand your real estate goals before committing.
8. Can I contact you at any time if I have questions?
When you’re looking to buy a home, it’s important to know that your agent is available when you need them, within reason. You never want to be out of touch with your agent, especially in a competitive market where waiting even an hour can mean the difference between getting and losing a home.
Research shows that real estate agents prefer communicating over text messages and Facebook messenger. This might not work for you so let them know ahead of time. Check with your real estate agent also if there are any special requirements. If you prefer seeing properties over the weekend or after working hours, all of those will guide you to success in buying a home.
9. What kind of due diligence will you be doing on my behalf?
In any type of real estate transaction, it’s essential to go through a process that will ensure you buy or sell a property without any issues. Check with your real estate agent what kind of due diligence will they go through.
This will guarantee there will be no surprises along the way. It will apply to appraisal, transfer certificate title, loan application, attorney fees (where applicable), and others. Experienced agents will cover all aspects of the transaction and they will provide transparency so you will have peace of mind.
10. What type of home buying process do you typically follow?
This question will help you find out if your potential real estate agent is prepared for the home buying process. Inexperienced agents are often reactive and don’t prepare well.
When you talk to an agent, pay attention if they have a process to guide you through home buying. To help you find your way through the home buying process, a good real estate agent will ask questions and listen intently.
They will notice what are you familiar with and where you’ll need more help. This will ensure you avoid any potential challenges during the entire process.
11. How long will it take me to get my dream home?
In a few situations, buyers may find their dream home quickly, anywhere between a few days to 1 week. Real estate agents play a crucial role here. Talk to your agent and see what their estimated time frame is in the type of home you’re looking for, the neighborhood, your budget, etc.
Sometimes, the home buying process may take up to 3 months, so it’s important to find a real estate agent that will be with you all the way. Be cautious of agents that take much longer than that as it may be a red flag, or they are inexperienced to support your needs.
12. What sets you apart from other real estate agents?
It’s important to know why a real estate agent says they’re the best in town. Make sure your potential real estate agent can give more than just their contact information. Ask about any unique features that make THEM stand out from other people. Things you might need to hear from them are: “I grew up and this neighborhood” or “I’ve sold more homes in this area than any other agent”.
If you don’t hear anything positive or something that sets them apart from other agents, then there may be no reason for YOU to choose them.
Questions to ask a real estate agent before buying a home
13. What is the reason for selling the house?
This can be a tricky question as the sellers aren’t obliged to answer it. Although, if they refuse to answer, it might be a potential red flag. Regardless, it’s still useful to ask for a reason for selling the house.
You can ask your agent to inquire if needed, as they might get the answer easier. Maybe the seller has an urgent reason to leave or wants to upgrade to a bigger house. Whatever the reason, it may be a deal-breaker for you before closing the deal.
14. Have there been any improvements or renovations to the house?
Asking this question can reveal crucial details that may influence home inspection. Check with the seller or ask your agent to inquire about the original plans for the house you’re trying to buy.
This may show how much care they gave to the house. There may have been persistent issues with the foundation or the roof. Also, the house might be in impeccable condition. In the end, it’s a great way to figure out what is the ideal value of the home you’re trying to buy.
15. How long has the house been on the market?
The longer a house has been on the market, the higher chance there is something wrong with it. For some people, this sends up red flags. Still, ask your agent to check the exact time on the market, as it doesn’t happen always that a house stays on the market for too long.
On the other hand, this may be working to your advantage. Some sellers might be willing to negotiate further and even lower the final price.
16. What is the cost of utilities?
We all know the importance of saving money. But did you also consider how much it can cost to live in a certain place? Before buying your dream home, make sure that utilities will fit into YOUR monthly budget. This includes heating, cooling, electric costs, internet access, cable TV, water, trash, etc.
If the utility costs seem a bit too high, you can consider investing in renewable energy sources like solar or buying energy-efficient appliances.
17. Is the area noisy or are there other annoyances?
If you want to know more about the area where your future home might be, be sure to ask. Is there any noise that could keep you up at night? What about dogs barking in the neighborhood? How are the neighbors behaving and are they respecting hours of rest?
You may have found a great place to live, but it so happens to have a large local food festival happening twice a year. Whatever it is, it’ll be good to know ahead of time, and even influence negotiations.
18. What is the risk of natural disasters?
Natural disasters can cause a significant amount of damage. It’s important to assess risk in the area for natural hazards like floods, typhoons, and earthquakes before purchasing a new home.
You may want to consider getting homeowner’s insurance that covers these events if they happen in the area. Talking to the seller of the home or your real estate agent about this can improve your chances of avoiding disasters in the future or handling them with minimal impact on your budget.
Questions to ask a real estate agent before selling a home
19. How much is my home worth?
Listing your home at a competitive price will bring in more buyers and increase your chances of selling your home faster. If you’re unsure what you should ask for your home, talk to your real estate agent. They can look into the recent data about sales in the area for similar homes and give you a comparative market analysis.
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Even if your home is similar in size and age to homes sold recently in the area, your home may be worth more. You may have renovated recently or expanded a garage. Check with your agent to walk you through the process to maximize profits for a home sale.
20. How will you help me market my home?
This question can play a huge influence on the speed and quality of the outcome you’re looking for when selling your home. Hiring a real estate agent allows you to access their marketing proficiency. Get to know what strategies they are planning to use to market your home.
They may use social media, email, website, and other means of promoting. It may seem daunting to you, but skilled and experienced agents can tackle any challenges, even in a competitive market.
21. What do I need to do to get my home ready for sale?
All too often, homeowners trying to sell their home will spend time and money improving their home thinking it will increase the value for sale. While this may be true in some cases, it often leads to overspending and lower return on investment.
You should aim to spend a minimal amount of money while getting the maximum return on investment. Experienced real estate agents know what you should work on improving around your home to make it more appealing to buyers. Ask your agent to go through a list of things with you and get your home ready for sale in the most profitable way.
22. What kind of listing agreement do you usually use?
There are two most common types of listing agreements that real estate agents use, exclusive and non-exclusive. The exclusive listing agreement is often preferred by the agents as it gives them more reasons to focus on selling your home.
A non-exclusive agreement means that other agents can also market your home. This also means you will have to deal with multiple people at the same time. While both types of agreements have their benefits and drawbacks, check with your agent how flexible they are as they may be able to provide you with alternative agreement options.
23. What if I get two or more offers at a time?
This is not an unusual occurrence. When the market is hot, getting multiple offers is quite common. It’s essential to have a plan when a situation like this happens. You might have conflicting thoughts about whom to sell your home.
Talk to your agent and ask for their feedback about similar experiences they may have faced. They will guide you through a process that can determine your priorities. This in turn will help you decide which way to go, and which offer to accept.
24. What if I get unacceptable offers or no offers at all?
Have in mind that your home may or may not sell as fast as you want. Don’t worry, there are many elements that influence this. Your house might be overpriced. The buyers looking at your home may not be the right buyers.
If it takes a long time, you might want to consider switching an agent or try to sell your home in a different way. Whatever you do, have patience, and look for the best solution that will increase chances for making a profitable sale of your home.
Are you ready to begin your real estate sale or purchase?
It is important to find the right real estate agent. This person can help you save time, money, and even large amounts of stress when buying or selling your home. Take these questions into consideration before making any decisions so that it’s a smooth experience for everyone involved. Don’t be afraid to adjust or customize these questions to match your unique real estate needs.
4 Responses
We’re glad you explained how to identify a professional and local real estate agent before we hire one. My fiance and I decided we want to find a home before the year ends, so we think it’d be wise to hire a real estate agent to make the process easier, and your article will definitely help us find one. We appreciate your insight on finding a realtor who’s familiar with the neighborhood we want to live in.
Thank you Eli, for such an insightful comment. I’m glad to hear that your fiance and you feel that it’s wise to hire a real estate agent when looking for a new home.
With the real estate market being so competitive, it’s important to find the perfect real estate agent who will work with you to ensure you get the house of your dreams. Thank you for providing us with all the information we need to make sure we find a professional local real estate agent that can help meet our goals.
Finding the right real estate agent is crucial when you’re making such a significant investment. I’ve found that checking their social media profiles is a great way to get a sense of their personality and professionalism. It also helps me to see how they interact with clients and what kind of properties they specialize in. Thanks for highlighting this important aspect!”