Questions to Ask Your Real Estate Broker

Questions to Ask Your Real Estate Broker

If you are looking to purchase a home or perhaps sell your home, finding the right real estate broker is crucial to your success. On average, buyers and sellers get better deals when they use the services of a reputable real estate broker or company. However, it does depend on who you choose as your broker that will help determine your success.

Here are four questions to ask your real estate broker or one from a short list that you have narrowed down. The questions will help you find the right broker to fit your particular needs.

How Well Are You Established in this Location?

A large part of the real estate agent’s job is to know the area that they cover. In larger communities, it’s possible that travelling a few miles may make all the difference in getting the right agent for the home you are selling or interested in purchasing. The more a real estate broker is entrenched in a particular area, the better they should know the market.

How Much Experience Do You Have?

A simple question, but one that is important as longevity in the real estate business helps separate the good from the not-so-good. You’ll find that some have been spending all of their lives in the real estate business while others only do it part-time or have only recently joined the industry. Keep in mind that someone who has been there 20 years may not be better for your needs that someone who only has a few years of experience. However, if you are looking for a specific type of home, then you may be better off with a more experienced real estate agent.

How Much Are Your Services?

It’s tough to get around the commissions, but keep in mind that you get exactly what you pay for. Here, you should get an idea of how much brokers generally charge for their services and compare that to what this particular agent will earn. You’ll find that some are on the higher end of the scale, but as long as their price is not unreasonable and they have a stellar reputation, then it will be worth more than paying. However, you should also ask what you are getting for your money, how they will market your property, and why they are different than other agents. A broker that is charging a larger commission should have an aggressive marketing plan (click here to see what an aggressive marketing plan looks like).

If you are buying a home, it is free to use a broker since the seller typically pays the buyers broker commission.

Can I Call You Anytime?

One of the most important questions to ask your real estate broker is how much contact that you will have with them. This is because one of the most frequent complaints is that buyers or sellers have less contact with the agent than they like. So, you will need to ask how the agent will update you about their progress.  If you see that a real estate agent is bothered by sending you texts or emails every few days, it’s time to go somewhere else. Contact information questions to ask your real estate broker include by what means you can contact them as well.