Selecting an agent is what defines your house search or sale. This brief guide can help you to ask the right questions, learn why each one of them is important, and make a confident decision.
Quick 3-Step Filter (use when interviews are in a hurry)
- Verify local experience.
- Check communication style.
- Confirm fees and timeline.
Only those candidates who are successful on this quick filter should be asked the following set of questions.
Market and neighborhood expertise
The reason it is important: The local knowledge is time and cost-efficient.
- What is your length of service in Marin?
- What are the Marin areas that you are most familiar with?
- What are the current price trends within my neighborhood?
When you enquire about these, observe certain streets, recent sales, or the cause of the price variations. Elusive responses indicate that the Marin real estate agent might not be knowledgeable about the area.
Client attitude and interaction
Why this is important: Effective communication makes the process flawless.
- The mode of communication, and the frequency thereof?
- Who picks up when you are not available?
- How do you like it best to present the homes or meet buyers?
Find an Marin real estate agent who suits your schedule and responds fast. When you like to use text and the agent operates only with email, there will be friction on both sides.
Purchasing or selling strategy
The importance of this: Strategy influences the speed and end price.
- To sellers: What will you charge and sell my house?
- Buyers: What do you do to see listings prior to going live?
- What number of clients do you deal with at a time?
An agent who believes in the future demonstrates that there is a clear plan that can be used to achieve their goal. Demand actions, not rhetoric.
Fees, contracts, and timeline
The importance of this: The most obvious deal-breakers are money and time.
- How much do you charge and to whom?
- Can I see a sample contract?
- How realistic is the listing to close or offer to move in?
Ensure that the price of the fees and the terms of the contract are as you anticipate. In case there is a lack of clarity in the timeline, request an estimate in writing.
Track record and references
Why this is important: The historical performance is the actual performance.
- Is it possible to provide the recent client referral or reviews?
- What was the number of homes that you sold or assisted buyers in purchasing last year?
- Have you dealt with property such as mine?
Request two references and make them. Brief conversations with former customers are quicker to understand compared to extensive online feedback.
Red flags to watch for
- No definite marketing or searching strategy.
- Not willing to present an example contract.
- Keeps is unresponsive to experience in Marin.
Final decision checklist
- The Marin real estate agent was referring to local sales specifically and not broadly.
- You get explicit responses regarding charges and schedules.
- You are relaxed with their communication.
The last suggestion: interview at least two agents to compare approaches. You can also use local terms such as realtors in Marina del Rey or real estate agency Marina del Rey as a search query on the internet to get additional applicants. You can use phrases like best realtor near Marin to expand your search results.
The following questions are to be used during your next meeting. They assist you in the recruitment of an agent familiar with Marin, a good communicator, and an agent striving to achieve your objectives.
