Putting your Pleasanton home up for sale is a major decision.

Your home is probably your biggest financial investment. Entrusting one of the largest financial transactions you’ll make to a person you have only met a few times can be difficult. This is the reason many home sellers would rather work with an agent they know.

However, you should know that not all listing agents are equal.

When it comes to an important and major investment like your home, it must be placed in the hands of a reliable and trustworthy real estate agent. The listing agent’s expertise should also be taken into account.

Be a proactive seller. Clarify things with your real estate agent. Ask questions. You want to ensure the sale of your Pleasanton home will be as smooth and stress-free as possible.

To know more about the real estate agent and his/her plans to market your home, here are some questions you can ask.

a. Do you work part-time or full-time? Though there is nothing wrong with working with a part-time agent but you can expect more time and commitment from a full-time agent.

b. How long have you been working as a real estate agent in Pleasanton? The years of experience are less importance than the years working in the local market.

You want someone who knows Pleasanton’s real estate market like the back of their hand. Why? Because your home has a better chance of being sold successfully if the agent has been selling homes in the area for at least two years.

In my case, I have been working in the Pleasanton market for a long time. I became a licensed agent in 2004 and six years after, I got my broker’s license and opened my own business.

In 2014 and 2015, I received the Grand Master’s Achievement Award from the Bay East Association of Realtors. It is an award given only to the top real estate sellers in Pleasanton.

c. How will you market my home? This is a question all sellers MUST ask.

You want to know the specific plan of the agent to sell your home successfully. There should be a solid plan more than putting up the for sale sign in the yard, or producing flyers.

There are methods and techniques to market your Pleasanton home for sale, and some are more effective than others, so talk to your agent about the best methods to utilize.

d. How strong is your online presence? A strong online presence is crucial for a good listing agent.

These days, most buyers do online research before they actually begin visiting homes. If your real estate agent is not using the latest available technology, you should seriously consider switching to one who does.

You can also know more about the agent through the testimonials and reviews on their site. Google their name and see how well they do compared to other agents.

e. How does the selling process get from start to finish?

Part of being a proactive seller is knowing the details of the processes. There will be bumps along the way, but when you have a great real estate agent to guide you, and you have already learned what to anticipate, you and your real estate agent will manage well together.

When you ask these questions to your real estate agent, you will have a better chance of successfully putting your Pleasanton CA home up for sale.