- Ask agents to explain the marketing tactics that will be used to sell your house, including print, Web and other types of advertising (you'll already know much of this if you've done your research).
- Ask how long it will take the agent to place your house in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) immediately? Making your home available to every affiliated agent quickly increases the buyer pool.
- Ask about their commission rate?
- Find out how long they want you to list with them, keeping in mind that the time is usually negotiable.
- What's the average length of time it takes to sell a house in your area? What is their company's average?
- How long has the (potential) listing agent been licensed to sell real estate?
- What kind of awards has the agent won?
- What percentage of the agency's listings sell during the initial listing contract period?
- Ask how often can you expect to receive buyer feedback? Weekly, twice a month, after every showing? Will the feedback be written?
- Ask the agent to give you an estimate of typical seller closing costs.
- Excise taxes.
- Attorney or other professional fees.
- How your share of property taxes for the year is calculated.
- Ask about other fees that sellers are typically expected to pay for. (Surveys, inspections, certifications, etc. Customs differ around the US.)
- Will the agent hold an open house for other real estate agents? For buyers?
- How are showings handled? Will you receive advance notification that someone is coming? How much notice is typical? You can put restrictions on showings--certain days or times are off-limits but that may cut down on the number of times your home is shown.
- If you have pets, make sure the agent is committed to a plan that ensures their safety. You will need a plan for buyer safety, too.
- Does the agency use lockboxes? Many agencies place a key inside a box that is secured to your home. Ask the agents to explain how it works.
- If your new home will be in the same area, ask the agent any questions you might have as a buyer. You may choose to use the same agent to buy and sell.
Ask any other questions you think are important, but your decision to hire an agent should be based in part on a gut feeling that the two of you can work together.
