An experienced local REALTOR is your best bet to get the most value from a St. Louis or St. Charles County Missouri home purchase or sale. However, when it comes to choosing a REALTOR, there are so many options that it can become overwhelming. How do you know which St. Louis or St. Charles County area real estate agent you can trust? To help choose a local REALTOR that will work best for you, we have put together a list of ten questions you should ask when interviewing a real estate agent or team.
1. What is your level of experience?
Real estate agents know that what you learn practicing real estate is far more than you ever learned in real estate school. So be sure to choose an agent with experience. Ask the agents you are considering the following questions:
- How many homes do you sell yearly?
- How many buyers versus listings did you close last year?
- What percent of the listing price did you get on your closed listings in the last year?
2. What professional designations have you earned to enhance your professional skills and real estate knowledge?
There are numerous designations
available for REALTORs to achieve for improving their skills and expertise. These
designations, along with everyday experience, will provide you insight into the
REALTORs experience and commitment to the profession. These designations include, but are not
limited to, Real Estate Negotiation Expert (RENE), Senior Real Estate
Specialist (SRES), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), e-pro, Accredited
Buyers Representative (ABR), Relocation Certified, Luxury Home Specialist, New
Construction Certified and many others. Experience and education are a winning
combination.
3. What type of staff or support resources do you have?
Does the agent have support staff
like dedicated buyer or listing agents, transaction coordinators or secretaries
that help them achieve the best results for their clients? What about
technology systems that help them help you? Do they have access to support
should the need arise? If a REALTOR has more than one client, or if they work
part-time, they will need support for a smooth transaction.
4. Are you a part-time or full-time REALTOR?
Top selling part-time real estate
agents simply do not exist. A successful, quality REALTOR is a full-time REALTOR.
5. Do you use a professional photographer to take home photos?
Your home, regardless of the listing price deserves and needs professional photos to be properly marketed. Cell phone photos and photos taken by a friend who has a nice camera are not acceptable. You need professional photos with the proper resolution to get the best results. The agents that have the clearest understanding of best marketing practices have several strategies and use the best photos available to market their homes.
6. What areas do you primarily work in?
If the agent is an expert at selling city homes and you live in a rural area of the county, it might not be a good fit. Real estate is hyper-local and knowing the local market makes a big difference. Ask any REALTOR if they can provide a ranking report by area or zip code. They should have this at their fingertips.
7. Have you sold any homes in my neighborhood?
The answer to this question will let you know if the agent has sold, shown or is familiar with the benefits of living in your neighborhood or area. Being familiar with the area, municipality, businesses and restaurants is an added bonus when selecting a REALTOR.
8. How will you market my home?
Does the agent have a solid home
marketing plan? Or is the plan to put a sign in the yard and wait? A well-constructed
marketing plan should include online, offline, and in-home marketing services
to help you get the most money for your home. You want to work with an agent or
team of agents that make an investment in your home. It is critical that your
home is fully enhanced on all major real estate websites. Ask the agents you are considering this
question, “why should I chose you to list my home?” Enhanced marketing opportunities are ever changing,
and you want to select a REALTOR that it is top of the marketing game.
9. How will you keep me informed of your progress?
Does the REALTOR put a sign in your
yard and disappear indefinitely? A quality real estate agent should have a plan
for reporting progress and checking in regularly with their clients. Expectations and communication are key
elements to a successful REALTOR and real estate experience.
10. Is there anything that you specialize in or do different from other real estate agents?
Many REALTORs have learned specific
sets of skills due to their experience and/or education. Even if that set of
skills is not specific to your needs, knowing that an agent has a special set
of skills is helpful. You want a REALTOR
that is organized and intentional. One
that has a plan, executes that plan, and follows through at every level.
It is the REALTOR’s responsibility to thoroughly explain to you what your options are regarding marketing, timelines, compensation and anything else that may be important to you as a client.
---
Are you thinking of buying or selling a home in the St. Louis or St. Charles County areas in Missouri? Why not interview The Boehmer Team? Contact us to learn how we are uniquely qualified to assist you. Or learn more about us at www.TheBoehmerTeam.com.
