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Top 13 Questions you should ask a Real Estate Agent before you Hire them

By Team Radius on October, 22 2018

Whether you buy a house or sell one, hiring a Real Estate Agent would generally be the first step. But how do you know you’re hiring the right agent for the job? How would you decide whom to choose when there are about thousands of agents out there? We here at Radius Agent have made a list of questions you should ask your agent, to help you make the right decision.

Do your Homework

Find out as much as you possibly can about the agent you’re about to hire. Go through their website, blog, and social media to gain insight upon the kind of work they’ve done in the past. If the agent was referred to you by someone, even better! You have the best source to find out more about the agent.

 

1. How long have you been a Real Estate Agent?

The answer to this question is going to tell you so much about the agent than you’d think! Only a successful real estate agent can stay in the real estate business for a long time since the business is purely based on commission. But that’s no reason to completely pass on an agent if they are new to the business.

 

2. How many homes have you sold in the last one year?

Experience definitely matters more than just education! If the agent has sold even a few homes that year, it means they’re well aware of the current market. Make sure to ask if they’ve sold any property in your neighborhood. A neighborhood expert is a huge plus.

 

3. Do you work with Buyers AND Sellers?

Most agents work with either buyers or sellers, which means, they are either buyer agents or listing agents. If the agent you’re about to hire is a buyer agent, it helps if they’ve also represented a seller at some point. The agent will be aware of the trends that both buyers and sellers engage with.

 

4. How many clients are you working with at the moment?

This will tell you how busy your agent is going to be during your business with them.

 

5. Do you already have buyers/property you’d like to recommend?

This question saves you a lot of time because the agent may already have a property that suits your requirements or a buyer who’s looking for a property.

 

6. Are you a part of a team?

You should know what extent of the work the agent will be involved in, and what parts of the work will be delegated to the team. This also means that there are specific people who handle specific tasks of your business, which means they are well experienced to handle what comes their way.

 

7. Do you have a list of vendors you’d like to recommend?

The agent would have worked with several vendors like home inspectors, mortgage brokers, and other industry professionals. The agent should be able to recommend a few sources for you to choose from.

 

8. How would you market my property?

Your agent must be able to market your property, both online and offline, to reach a wider audience.

 

9. How often would you communicate with me about the status of the transaction?

By now, you’d be aware of how the agent may communicate with you. Make sure you let them know about how often you’d like to be updated.

 

10. Would you give me a list of references?

The best way to judge your agent is most definitely by talking to their previous clients. Ask specific questions about their transaction which may provide insights into how yours may go.

 

11. Can I review the documents I should sign, well in advance?

Your agent should be able to give you a preview of the documents well in advance, so you have the time you need to really understand them. You should also be able to ask your agent to help you understand the documents.

 

12. What separates you from other Real Estate Agents?

The agent must not hold back to answer this question. They should be able to openly talk about their strengths and specialties and let you know you’re in good hands.

 

13. Is there anything else I should know/ Do you have any questions for me?

Your agent should be very transparent with you from the start. They should also not hesitate to ask you any questions that help make the transaction smoother.

If the answers check all the boxes, you have a winner!

 

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