Questions From Sellers to Real Estate Agents

Written by Posted On Friday, 17 May 2019 07:18
Frequently Asked Questions From Homeowners to Real Estate Agents Frequently Asked Questions From Homeowners to Real Estate Agents

What Are The Frequently Asked Questions Home Sellers Ask Real Estate Agent?

With buying a home comes a lot of questions and concerns that arise directly from the home buyer. It's no different when someone is selling a home, either. No matter how many homes and properties a homeowner has sold, there are bound to be questions that come to mind for each unique circumstance. For sellers it's bound to be true that every market and circumstances could be different.

Not every experience will be the same, so it's not entirely plausible for the seller to want to know what exactly they should expect. Sure, there will be some familiar situations, however, real estate is an ever changing business.  It's always an excellent idea to come prepared and have the answers to these frequently asked questions before you get the process going.

As a Realtor, it's your responsibility to handle and address these situations before potential issues ever becomes a problem. Here's a list of frequently asked questions that home sellers may ask a Real Estate agent found at Maximum Real Estate Exposure. Responses to these questions can often determin a seller's comfort level with a particular agent. Answering questions such as these is a great way to show off your local market expertise. When you have a strong grasp of the local real estate market it becomes readily apparent to the public. Being unprepared is just as easy to spot.

Let's do a quick review:

How is the real estate market right now?

Are homes and properties selling fast or has there been a decrease in sales, leaving the real estate market bland and over-saturated? Before the home seller even considers listing their property, they will want to understand how well the market is doing. Is there is a good chance the home will sell quickly? Will I be able to get X amount of dollars? What should be disclosed to potential buyers about my homes condition?

It's important for the buyer to understand what they are getting for their investment. Whether the home is in impeccable shape or there is work that needs to be done, it's essential for the home seller to list disclose this type of information so that they know exactly what they are buying.

If the seller is aware of a certain issue, then it should be disclosed. As a real estate agent, you should always be prepared for these types of questions from a home seller.

When is the best time to sell?

Although every real estate market differs from time to time in certain situations, there is usually a better time than others in which a seller can get the most out of the home selling experience. Naturally, springtime is well-known for being a great period for selling a home, however, this can vary within different parts of the country. It's important to understand the market and be aware of the most popular times for your home sellers.

When a seller asks when the best time to sell a home is the best real estate agents don't respond with NOW is always the best time. As a homeowner, you should always be on the lookout for a real estate agent who puts their interests before a clients.

What is the best way to prepare a home for a sale?

A buyer's first impression is one of the most significant factors in selling a home. Home buyers start their property search online. Given the power of the internet it is imperative that your real estate photography is exceptional. Don't settle for anything less than outstanding. Everyone who is in the market to buy a home in your price point will use the photos to form their opinion of your property. The photos can make or break how many people look at your home.

The photos of course need to be realistic. Be sure that your home is in great shape, looks astonishing, and gives off a warm feeling. The home should be clutter-free and not have an abundance of personal photos of the family hanging around. It's also a great idea to show off the home in natural lighting. Make sure all your curtains and drapes are drawn. Any dark areas of the home should have lights turned on when showings occur.

Here are some additional excellent tips to prepare your home for sale. The advice will go along way in helping you beat the rest of the local real estate competition.

How is the worth of a home determined?

There is a lot that goes into determining the value of a home. It mostly boils down to a comparison of homes within the neighborhood and their respective sales price. The neighborhood and community play a significant factor in the value of a home.

Additional factors that influence home value include the square footage, the number of rooms, the number of bedrooms and baths, the flooring, age of structural and mechanical systems such as the roof, heating and cooling, window quality, etc.

How will the home be marketed?

Many home sellers will want to know where their home will be listed for sale, and it can vary from agent to agent. The days of print advertising are gone from real estate. The internet is now the dominant source of buyer traffic. Your agent should have a solid real estate marketing plan to get the home sold in an expeditious manner.

However, now, there are more ways to market a home so that it lands in front of more potential buyers - the internet. It's been proven that most home searches begin online, so the internet is usually the best place to market a home.

How will you make sure the buyer is qualified?

One of the most significant fears on any seller is making sure that they don't accept an offer from a buyer who is not going to get the mortgage. It can be terrifying to a seller that their home could be tied up for a month or two only to find out the sale isn't going to happen. Put yourself in the sellers shoes. From the minute they accept a contract, they'll be planning their next move.

Buying and selling a home at the same time can be extremely stressful as well as hard to manage. Homeowners are placing the utmost confidence in their agent to verify the buyer's financial qualifications.

Of course, the best way to do this is to insist on a pre-approval letter from a reputable lender. While it is not a one-hundred percent guarantee, it's pretty darn good.

Should the home sellers or listing agent be present at the showing?

The simple answer is no. There will be too many emotions and connections shown by the seller, which may make the potential buyer feel uncomfortable. You want the buyers to feel comfortable!

The listing agent should not be present for showings either. While this is contrary to what some sellers think a listing agent serves no purpose being with the buyer and their agent. A decent percentage of sellers think that somehow the listing agent is going to "sell" their home. Trust me a real estate agent does not ever talk someone into purchasing a home. It is one of the biggest decisions someone makes in their life.

Buyers know almost minutes within walking into a home whether they like it or not. A real estate agent will not change a buyer's opinion by pointing out minutia about the property. No buyer has ever bought a home because it has a fancy security system or higher quality windows the agent points out.

Buyers and their agent don't want a listing agent hovering over them. They want to be able to speak freely to one another. Another thing to keep in mind is that if an agent has to accompany showings you will lose potential showing activity. On lots of occasions a buyer's and seller's agent cannot match schedules. You should NEVER ever want to lose showings which is exactly what will happen when showings are accompanied.

Final thoughts

While there may be more questions that you encounter along the way, these are some of the most commonly asked questions from home sellers that you should always expect to be asked. The most important thing is that your home seller feels comfortable with you as their agent.

It's essential for you to have the answers to their questions regardless of how many times you have been asked that question in the past. This may be a new experience for the home seller, and they need to feel comfortable and aware of everything they should expect during the home selling process.

The best real estate agents understand that selling a home is a big deal. It is ripe for many different emotions. At times a real estate agent is a counselor as much as anything else.

Other Helpful Realty Times Articles

  • What do you need to apply for a mortgage - did you just sell your home and are ready to buy a new one? See what the lender is going to need to process the loan on your purchase. You'll love the handy advice on what to bring the lender.
  • Tips to keep your home safe during an open house - lots of sellers think that an open house is necessary to sell a home. It is not. In fact, it puts a seller's home at risk of theft which is something a significant amount of real estate agents never discuss. Remember this - serious buyers always schedule showings for homes they are interested in viewing. If you insist on having an open house use this advice to make sure it is secure.

Read these additional articles to make wise decisions before purchasing or selling a home. Educated buyers and sellers are less apt to make mistakes.

About the author: Bill Gassett is a nationally recognized Real Estate leader who has been helping people buy and sell Metrowest Massachusetts real estate for the past thirty-two plus years. Bill has been one of the top RE/MAX Realtors in New England for the past decade.

In 2018 he was the #1 RE/MAX real estate agent in Massachusetts. His real estate advice has been featured on, CNBC, RIS Media, National Association of Realtors, Inman News, Placester, RESAAS, Credit Sesame and others.

Bill covers real estate sales in the following Massachusetts communities: Ashland, Bellingham, Douglas, Framingham, Franklin, Grafton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hopedale, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Natick, Northborough, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Sutton, Wayland, Westborough, Whitinsville, Worcester, Upton and Uxbridge MA.

Reach out for his advice anytime.

Rate this item
(1 Vote)

Agent Resource

Limited time offer - 50% off - click here

Realty Times

From buying and selling advice for consumers to money-making tips for Agents, our content, updated daily, has made Realty Times® a must-read, and see, for anyone involved in Real Estate.