How to Find the Best Realtor to Sell Your Home

You’ve put a lot of time, love, and money into your home. Your house is the biggest asset you have, so you shouldn’t settle on anything less than the best when choosing a realtor to sell your home. 

According to a survey that analyzed over 27 million real estate transactions, realtors who fell in the top 5% could sell homes for 10% more than the average realtor – so choosing the right one is vital if you want to get the maximum return on your investment. 

By following a simple vetting process, you can find an experienced realtor to market and sell your home fast and for your asking price.

Ask for Referrals

There are a lot of realtors out there – so how do you go about choosing one?

Begin your search by asking your friends, family, and coworkers for referrals. However, be more specific than just asking for their recommendations, and don’t be tempted to hire the first estate agent you find.

Instead, ask your friends and family for recommendations for an agent who knows and works in your area – the old saying, “location, location, location,” is essential when buying a home. Still, it’s also crucial when finding an agent to sell it.  

You need an estate agent familiar with all the ins and outs of your area – if an agent spends time in the area and interacts with its residents, they will know how to market your home.

Doing some preliminary research online, utilizing search terms like "realtor to sell my house" in conjunction with your locality, can help you compile a list of potential candidates. This approach not only narrows down your options but ensures you're looking at realtors who have a proven track record in your specific area.

Test Their Response Time

When you have a list of potential realtors you’d like to approach, call or email them at their office. Don’t call them more than once – it’s essential to wait for them to get back to you. 

How quickly a realtor responds is a way to tell just how responsive they will be while marketing your home. A good agent should get back to you on the same day – however, if they keep you waiting for more than a day, proceed with caution. 

An agent’s responsiveness to you is also a good indication of their communication with prospective buyers. 

Interview Them

When you meet up with prospective agents to discuss your listing, treat it like a formal interview. 

Ask them how much experience they have in the industry, and ask to see their stats (how many houses sold over the last year and their success rate). It would be best if you also asked how often they sell homes for their asking price.

Ideally, your agent should have been in the real estate industry for at least two years – that is usually enough time for them to develop a solid marketing and selling plan. 

When it comes to the number of houses the agent sold, double digits are preferable. They should also have a success rate of 60% and above, and they should have sold their listings for their asking price around 95% of the time.

Other questions to ask when interviewing agents are how they plan on marketing your home. Ask how they intend to leverage social media and if they will also sell your home via flyers or newspaper advertisements.