Interviewing real estate agents is like team tryouts
Before adding a new team member, you need to make sure they have the right skills, share your values and fit with the rest of your team (aka family).
So, interviewing a prospective real estate agent for a key position – the captain of your buying or selling team – is essential. (Sorry, we couldn’t resist a small sports analogy. We’re missing hockey!)
These 5 questions should be a part of any “get to know you/are we a good fit” conversation you have before you hire a REALTOR®.
Q1: How will you help me find a home to buy?
A good REALTOR® takes the time to know you – your family, personality and lifestyle. We need this information so we understand EXACTLY what you want and need in a home.
Before we agree to work with clients, we dive deep into what you need:
- Do you need to accommodate different stages of life or different generations?
- Do you need public transportation?
- How many bedrooms do you want?
- Are schools important to you?
- Do you want a new or a previously-owned home?
Before you choose to work with a REALTOR®, make sure you’re confident they’ve taken the time to get to know you and understand your wishes. And then make sure they communicate their strategy and process for helping you find your ideal home.
Q2: How many homes have you sold in the Sherwood Park area in the past year or two?
Ideally, you want someone with a good track record in your neighborhood and preferably in your price range. You’ll want to know how much experience your agent has selling or buying the kind of property you have (acreage or condo, etc.).
The more data an agent is willing to provide (houses sold, prices, average sale to list price ratio, average days on the market, etc.), the more confidence you can have in their expertise and their ability to sell your home.
We’re always happy to share our results with clients (sometimes we can’t STOP talking about it).
We complete an average of 250 transactions per year and consistently land in the top 1% of realtors in Sherwood Park.
Q3: Can you provide the names and phone numbers of past clients as references?
Client testimonials and reviews can provide powerful insights into what it’s like to work with a REALTOR®. Ask references about their overall experience, the agent’s customer service and knowledge of the local area. Make sure the references aren’t relatives; it’s difficult to give family members an objective review.
We completely understand you want to do your due diligence by speaking with our past clients. We have several customer testimonials throughout our website and we’re super happy to connect you with past clients, with permission.
Q4. Why should I hire you over your competition?
Any good real estate agent should have a ready answer.
We love answering this question. It gives us a real chance to talk about our process, our expertise and our love for what we do.
Here’s a quick snapshot of our answer.
You should hire Hodges & Mohr over the competition because we’re:
- Honest, friendly and communicate well – we’re not afraid to point out flaws and let you know pros and cons of a home you’re considering
- Experienced in the local market – 35 years combined experience
- Excellent negotiators – 250+ transactions annually
- Readily available by phone or e-mail and quick to return calls and supported by a full team
- Provide complimentary staging, professional photos and custom marketing for sellers
- We will see as MANY houses as it takes to find the perfect home for buyers
- We’re fun and pretty funny too — which is important because we’ll spend a lot of time together. We’re also patient and empathetic and understand moving is a stressful and emotional time for many.
Q5. What will my closing costs be?
The entire process is obviously more than just about the money, but buying or selling a house can be very stressful. Much of this worry focuses on how much it will cost in the end. Your REALTOR® should explain very clearly how commission fees and closing costs are calculated, and help you understand the process to remove your anxiety.
Every home and each market is different. What works for one client might not work for another. We will be very transparent with you before we sign any agreements about fees and additional costs you might expect to incur.
Our proven Get‘er Sold Strategy provides you with professional staging and photos to show your home in the best possible light. It also includes a customized marketing plan and marketing materials that make sense for your property.
And yes, the fee is the same amount if your house is on the market for 1 day or 90 days – or if we show you 7 houses or 70. You’re paying for our time, experience and expertise in the local area. You won’t be disappointed.
By asking these 5 questions, you increase the chances of hiring the right real estate agent to get the job done right and with a minimum of stress.
And by taking the time to answer these questions, prospective agents should help you feel comfortable and secure with their knowledge and experience in buying and selling houses.
Knowing how to listen, how to counsel you, and how to ask the right questions allows us to serve you better.
We invest so much time getting to know our clients throughout the process, we feel not just like we’re a member of the team, but a member of the family. And we often see clients as they transition through life: first home, family home, empty nest home.
We feel pretty privileged to play such a role in your family’s life.
If you’d like to add Trina & Megan to your team (or family), we’re here for ya.