Things you may want to ask your REALTOR®
Do you want to interview your REALTOR®? Nova Scotia has over 1800 licensed realtors, so it can seem like a very difficult task to choose the best one among them. You can use these questions to select the best Halifax real estate agent.
Are you a professional Halifax real estate agent? Do you work full-time? How long have you been in Halifax real estate? Do you represent the buyers? Do you have a professional designation?
By knowing if your real estate agent works full-time or part-time, you can quickly figure out whether there will be any scheduling conflicts during the selling process. This will also tell you how committed the agent is towards your transaction. Just like in any other profession, the years spent by a professional in a particular field don’t always tell you about the quality of service you will receive; however, it is definitely a good starting point to consider.
Do you handle everything yourself, or do you have a team? Can you tell me about your team members and how they are going to help me with my transaction? What is the best way to communicate with your team?
Real estate agents in Halifax, who sell a number of homes often, have a team. As their business grows, they hire more people so that they can provide higher quality service to the buyers and the sellers. Therefore, you might be interested in knowing which team member will help you with your transaction and the role he/she will play. You might also be interested in meeting the team members so that you can decide if you will be comfortable with them. Any questions you have about the fees on your closing statement needs to be answered by a team member.
As a professional real estate agent, do you currently have a website which will be used to list my home? May I know your website address? Who will respond to my email queries and how quickly can I expect a response? Can I take your email address?
A lot of buyers prefer to search new properties on the internet itself. This is because the internet is available 24/7 and the buyers can do this from the comfort of their homes. Therefore, it is important for you to confirm that your property is listed on the real estate agent’s website or on the main company’s website. You can quickly browse through the agent’s website to check exactly how much info related to your listing is there on the site.
How will you remain in touch with me during the selling process? How often will you contact me?
Some Halifax real estate agents send you notifications daily on your email/fax/phone. On the other hand, some real estate agents like to send you these notifications on a weekly basis. By knowing the frequency of these notifications, you can reconcile your requirements as to how the agent’s system operates.
Why should I use your services? What differentiates you as a real estate agent among the many others? Can you give me a comparison between your average market time and that of the other real estate agents?
When it comes to real estate, it takes time to master the marketing skills. The unique marketing methods incorporated by a Halifax Realtor might help you to sell your home quicker and for the correct price. A professional real estate expert can research the demographics in your area to provide you with a target audience where direct marketing can be done.
Can I know about your past clients and the experience they have had with you?
Interviewing a Halifax Realtor is actually quite similar to interviewing a candidate for a job. This is why it is important to contact the references in order to check the past performances of the realtor. This will also help you in understanding how the realtor works and whether his style of work matches to the one you expect of him.
Do you provide a guarantee on your performance? What if I am not satisfied with your performance, will I be able to cancel our listing agreement then?
Real estate is a very tough and highly regulated business. Therefore, it might not be possible for your real estate agent to provide you a guarantee on the performance. However, this does not mean that the real estate agent you chose will not be committed to your transaction. A professional realtor in Halifax Regional Municipality will verbally outline the expectations you can set for him. We @ Sell Halifax Real Estate completely understand how important it is to build a win-win business relation. Our experts are fully aware that they will not make profit if their client does not.
How are you paid? Can you explain the fee structure? Is it possible to get that in writing?
In Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), the seller is the one who pays all agent commissions. Occasionally though, Halifax real estate agents will have other fees associated with their services. This can be an administrative fee, or a fee for any special service that you opted for. The additional fee is charged by the agent regardless of whether you are a buyer or a seller. You should always look at the bigger picture before you sign any agreement papers with your realtor. It is recommended that you ask for an estimated cost before hiring any realtor in Halifax Region.
Can you explain the pricing strategy that you will develop for selling my home?
The location and the condition of the property plays an important role in the selling process, but the price is the primary factor which decides how quickly a home is sold, or if it is sold at all. Sometimes, a pre-appraisal along with the access to current property information helps greatly. You should ask your agent if he/she has done the market analysis, and if the For Sale by Owner properties, foreclosed homes and the bank owned sales were part of that analysis.
What is your plan for selling my home? Who among us will decide where the home is marketed? What about the advertising costs, who will pay for them?
The marketing plan for your home should be clear from the very beginning. Therefore, it is important that you ask your Halifax real estate agent to show you a plan of how the advertising/marketing/promotion money will be spent. Ask your agent whether there are other marketing methods available to him which is currently not a part of the plan. If yes, who will pay for these marketing methods? Finally, it is advised that you ask for samples related to the marketing strategies that the real estate agent proposes in order to sell your home.