The Wall Street Journal educated Sellers by stating, “Hire A Top Real Estate Agent. Get the best, most aggressive listing agent you can find. Don’t rely on your cousin with the real estate license or your best friend’s wife. Find the best agents who greatly outperform their colleagues. That’s who you want. And this is no time to quibble over a few percentage points of the commission. Instead, offer your agent a big bonus if they sell the house in 30 days.”
Of course, you want to interview multiple Realtors®, but what should you ask them? How will you know if they will market your property to the fullest and make your selling process a success?
Are you a REALTOR®?
All real estate licensees are not the same. Only real estate licensees who are members of the National Association of REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS® REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate.
Will you be representing me as an Agent versus a Transaction Broker?
Agent: Acts as an advocate.
Transaction Broker: Is NOT an advocate.
Will you enter my property into RE Colorado and IRES?
There are two MLS’s along the Front Range. By showcasing your property in both MLS’s, your property will receive double the exposure.
Do you have the financial ability to market my property properly?
Grab local publications and newspapers. If you see Realtors advertising, they probably have the financial ability to market your property properly.
Will you treat my money as if it is your money?
We will treat your property, and your investment in it, respectfully and as if it were our own.
Do you use professional photography?
Photography is the most important marketing tool a Realtor can provide. Professional photos help a listing stand out. Our photographers are the best in the industry and specialize in wide angle, interior, exterior, twilight, and aerial photography.
Will you create an individual property website (IPW)?
We will create a website dedicated specifically to your property This will give all web users access to photos, a virtual tour, floor plans, and other pertinent information about your property.
Will you create a Virtual Tour?
We will supply a virtual tour of your home that will be available on IRES and RE Colorado and shareable on social media, in addition to the property's individual property website and numerous real estate websites.
Will you create a marketing video?
Do you share your listings on social media?
We share our listings on a number of social media sites including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Will you be taking your own measurements to verify square footage?
Do you advertise in Homes & Land Magazine?
We place a full-color ad in the award-winning Homes & Land Magazine of Weld and Larimer County every month. By paying to advertise in this publication, our listings are shared on their website which syndicate to many other websites maximizing print and worldwide internet exposure (see insert).
Do you advertise in local newspapers such as the Coloradoan, Reporter Harold, Greeley Tribune, Windsor Beacon…
By advertising in local publications your property will be entered into the newspaper's website which will syndicate to many other websites.
Do you advertise Farm and Ranch, and Luxury properties in specialty publications?
We place full color ads in targeted publications specific to individual properties such as Luxury Home Magazine, Haven, Farm&Ranch, Land, and more.
Do you advertise Farm and Ranch, and Luxury properties on specialty websites?
In addition to the usual websites that listings syndicate to we also add listings to targeted websites for specific properties such as fencepost.com, land.com, carproperty.com, landandfarm.com, farm&ranch.com, landsofamerica.com, and horseproperties.net.
Do you use specialty signage to market specific properties?
We have a variety of signs available in addition to our standard yard signs including; C3 Luxury, C3 Farm & Ranch, and various sign sizes to make sure your property is appropriately marketed at your street.
Will you host a broker open?
Hosting a broker open gives area Realtors the opportunity to see your property and put a best foot forward.
Will you host open houses?
Open houses give potential buyers the opportunity to tour your property and easily see it first hand.
How do you handle Buyer's Agent compensation?
We will share pros and cons of different strategies regarding buyer’s agent compensation and help you decide what is best for you and your property.
Will you complete a data driven market analysis of my property?
The process of accurately valuing a property is important to successfully selling a property.
Can you show me an example of your brochures, print and online advertising?
When were you licensed?
What designations and professional affiliations do you have?
How many properties similar to mine have you sold?
How many properties did you personally list and sell last year? This year?
We will create a 2-3-minute video showcasing your home with captions. Additional marketing that makes us different.
We will hire a licensed appraiser to professionally measure your home and create a floor plan. The floor plan will be used for marketing and will be available to potential buyers and Realtors. By hiring a professional, your post liability is minimized as the measurement company is the one confirming the square footage.
What are your listing stats including average days on market, sales price, and list price vs. final sales price?