4 Questions Sellers Should Ask Before Choosing a Hamilton REALTOR®

Choosing the right REALTOR® is an important decision.

Selling your home involves more than putting a sign on the lawn and waiting for an offer. Your REALTOR® should be able to explain how they would approach your particular property, what you can expect throughout the process and how they will help you make decisions along the way.

Before you choose an agent, consider asking these four questions.

1. How Would You Prepare My Home for Sale?

Every home is different.

Some properties may benefit from decluttering, repairs or updates before going to market. Others may already be in excellent condition and require very little preparation.

Ask your REALTOR® to walk through the home with you and explain:

• What should be done before listing?
• What doesn't need to be done?
• Which improvements are likely to matter to buyers?
• Where should you avoid spending money?
• How will the home be presented in the market?

A good conversation isn't necessarily about creating the longest to-do list.

It's about understanding what is worth doing—and what isn't.

2. How Will You Determine the Asking Price?

Pricing your home is one of the most important decisions you'll make.

Ask your REALTOR® to explain how they arrived at their recommended asking price.

That should include a discussion of comparable properties, current market conditions, the home's condition and features, and how competing properties may affect your positioning.

Don't be afraid to ask:

“What happens if we price it too high?”

And equally importantly:

“What happens if we price it too low?”

You should understand the strategy before you agree to the number.

3. How Will You Market My Home?

Marketing is more than putting your property on MLS®.

Ask what your REALTOR® actually plans to do to present your home to potential buyers.

Depending on the property, that might include:

• Professional photography
• Thoughtful property descriptions
• Strategic online exposure
• Social media
• Email marketing
• Open houses
• Targeted promotion
• Preparation and staging advice

More importantly, ask how those activities fit into an overall strategy.

You want to understand how the marketing is intended to attract the right buyers, not simply receive a list of marketing channels.

4. How Will You Guide Me Through the Sale?

This may be the most important question of all.

Selling a home involves decisions before, during and after the listing.

Ask your REALTOR® how they will communicate with you, what happens when an offer comes in, how negotiations are handled and what you can expect between an accepted offer and closing.

And if you're selling because you're downsizing or moving to another home, there's another important question:

How will the sale fit into the rest of my move?

The sale of your current home may be only one part of a much larger transition.

Understanding how the timing of your sale, your next home and your move fit together can help you make better decisions.

Choosing a REALTOR® Is About More Than Marketing

You should be comfortable asking questions before you choose the person who will represent you.

You don't need someone who simply tells you what you want to hear.

You need someone who can explain the plan, identify the decisions ahead and give you straightforward advice when those decisions aren't easy.

Thinking About Selling Your Hamilton Home?

If you're considering selling, you don't have to make every decision at once.

A conversation about your home, your circumstances and what you're hoping to accomplish can be a useful place to start.

Mike McCarthy, MBA
REALTOR®
Mike McCarthy Realty