It Pays To Be Choosy (Part II)

Last week, in Part I of "It Pays To Be Choosy", we introduced the topic of choosing the right Realtor for the job. In addition to recommending you start your search in your very own neighborhood, we also put forth three basic guidelines you should keep in mind when interviewing agents. If you missed the blog, you can click here to get caught up.

At this point in the process, you should have a list of four to six Realtors and a general idea of the qualities you are looking for in the one Realtor who will ultimately represent you. So, how do you actually begin the interview process? We recommend a two-step process, starting with a 15 to 20 minute phone call.

The purpose of an initial phone interview is to immediately eliminate any Realtor who does not meet the three basic guidelines we discussed in our previous blog (relevant experience, listens to you, and you are comfortable with them). Therefore, you want to start by asking generic questions about the Realtors' previous experience in your area. Here are some recommended questions:

1.) How many homes have you sold in my area?
2.) How recent were those sales?
3.) How long did they take to sell?
4.) How many offers did you receive?
5.) How is the overall market in my area?

If the Realtor doesn't have any recent sales in your area, or doesn't answer any of your questions to your satisfaction, move on to the next name on the list. If the Realtor does have solid experience and provides satisfactory answers, ask the agent if he or she has any questions for you. A good listing agent will ask you a number of questions about your motivation for selling, where you plan on moving, how soon you need to move, the property itself, etc.

Once you have answered any questions the Realtor might have, it's time to decide whether or not to schedule a formal listing appointment with that person. Although you will have only spoken with the Realtor for a few minutes, it should be enough time to eliminate anyone without experience or anyone you simply cannot see yourself getting along with. Assuming the Realtor gets the thumbs-up so far, schedule a time to meet in person. Make sure to tell the Realtor about any time limitations you might have so he or she can schedule accordingly.

If, after the phone interviews, you do not have at least three Realtors to interview in person, go back to step one and expand your list. It's important you meet with at least three Realtors before you make any decisions.

That's it for this installment of our series on choosing the right Realtor. Check back on Tuesday when we'll discuss the final step before making a decision; interviewing the Realtors in person. As always, we welcome any feedback!