The 1st Question to Ask A Real Estate Agent BEFORE Listing Your Home for Sale

The 1st Question to Ask A Real Estate Agent Before Listing Your Home for Sale

Anyone who’s familiar with my blogs or has watched any of my videos has certainly heard me preach the following: As a Seller, you should do your homework BEFORE hiring an agent or broker to list (and market!) what is most likely your largest asset. I can’t emphasize this point enough… It’s just that important.

There are many things to be taken into consideration before signing a listing agreement. Make sure and explain your situation and your real estate goals to a prospective listing agent and be sure they actually LISTEN and UNDERSTAND what’s most important to you. After all, you’re the person(s) hiring them. It should send up a red flag if they use their one-mouth more than their two-ears right from the outset of the conversation.

An agent or broker cannot advise you, the seller, effectively unless and until they understand your goals. But hey, you may be able to save a good deal of time just by asking them a simple question, right up-front.

What’s the first, and possibly the most important, question you should ask a listing agent before listing your home for sale? In my opinion, here it is:

“Do you really believe that NOW is a great time to buy a home?”

Sounds like an odd question to ask a listing agent, right? …Stick with me for a moment.

In the current real estate market, there is an abundance of fear and confusion surrounding buyers and their decision (or non-decision) to buy a home. This fear and confusion has caused some paralysis in many markets. Buyers need the facts and they need to be reassured they’re making a wise decision about buying your home. It’s very important to hire an agent who understands that NOW is probably the best time in the history of American real estate to buy a home.

Not only must a listing agent understand the reasons for this, but they have to be able to articulate them in detail, yet simply. (As the saying goes: If you can't explain it simply, you probably don't understand it well enough.) If they don’t believe it and aren’t excited about it, how on earth can they convince a potential buyer that purchasing your home today is one of the best decisions they can make?! (The same concept applies for the ways in which they market your home and expose it to other agents and the rest of the market, as well.)

How can an agent transfer that conviction if they themselves are not convinced?

Find a listing agent who believes that TODAY is the best time for someone to buy your home!

While we’re on the topic, check out:

The Price Is The Same, But You’ll Save Over $100,000!

2011 – The Year In Real Estate Quotes

I’m Brian Morgenweck, broker/owner of

Power Realty Group in Bergen County,

NJ. If you’re serious about selling your

home or condo, let’s talk! Connect with

me at (201) 489-3020 or send an email

to Brian@TheJerseyScene.com.

List your home with greater confidence…

and get better results.

The 1st Question To Ask A Real Estate Agent BEFORE Listing Your Home For Sale

I was inspired by the premise for this post, which I originally read at "Keeping Current Matters". It really resonated with me. If you don't already follow Steve Harney, I suggest you do!