15 May Top 4 Questions to Ask a Realtor When Selling Your Home

There’s a lot to consider when selling a home — and when choosing the right real estate agent. Don’t stress. Use this handy guide to help ask the right questions when deciding which listing agent is right for you:

1. What’s your experience in the local real estate market?

Knowledge of the local market is critical when selling a house. At Hermann London, we pride ourselves on the fact that our real estate agents are part of the St. Louis community. They know the neighborhoods, what’s hot and what’s not, how locals are searching for home listings and more. Make sure you consider the same things when looking for a real estate agent to list your home.

Every market is different. An agent that knows your community can help you determine the right asking price, market your home the right way, and ultimately, put more money in your pocket.

Pro Tip: Ask an agent what comparable homes in the area are selling for — and how they’re being marketed. An agent with local experience will know the answers, and know how to present your home to local buyers.

2. How are you planning to market my house?

Today, listing agents have more options than ever before to help sell your house. Look for a real estate agent with a solid game plan for selling your house that includes a good mix of online and offline marketing such as:

• Online listings
• Staging advice
• Professional photography
• Open houses

3. What is your sale-to-list ratio?

The sale-to-list ratio is a good at-a-glance look at listing agent performance. This number shows, on average, how the listing agent’s final sale price differs from the listing price. If the agent’s sale-to-list ratio is above 100%, their listings typically sell for more than the list price. If the sale-to-list ratio is below 100%, their listings typically sell for less than the list price.

This stat can give you a sense of your realtor’s negotiating skills and, importantly, their ability to set the right listing price.

Be Careful: While the sale-to-list ratio can be a good indicator of realtor performance, the average depends on local market conditions, as well.

4. Are you a REALTOR®?

Not every real estate agent is a REALTOR®. REALTORS® are licensed members of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and are held to the strict standards of the Code of Ethics, and required to participate in annual continuing education courses.