We may have had a week of rain this past week, but believe it or not, summer is just around the corner! The local real estate market is starting to heat up again, and if you have been thinking about selling your condo, now could be a great time to list.

I think everyone can agree that selling your home is a very big deal. An important step in the process is selecting the right hiring Realtor® to sell your home.

Where I’m from, In Kelowna, it seems that everyone knows at least one real estate agent, but we would always advise getting at least two opinions. At its core, selling your property is a business transaction, and even though there is a lot of emotion involved, it can pay to take a business-like approach in selecting the right agent.

If you’re thinking about selling your home this summer, we do hope you’ll use a Realtor®, but no matter who you’re thinking about working with, here are some key questions to ask your potential Agent :

What is your education and experience?
When you’re chatting with your potential Realtor®, think of it as a job interview. A good place to start is to learn more about their education and experience. However, do keep in mind that even If they’re relatively new to the real estate industry, that does not mean that they’re incapable of selling your home – we all start somewhere – but you should inquire about their strategy and the support team around them. That leads us to our next point…

What sort of support team do you have behind you?
The real estate industry is highly regulated and there are many moving parts. Ideally, you want to work with an agent who has skilled support staff around them. From start to finish, you want a transaction that is as smooth as possible – does your potential agent offer that?

What’s your brokerage’s marketing strategy?
Marketing is crucial in real estate, but it is sometimes overlooked by home sellers. However, in a nutshell, the better your agent’s marketing strategy, the more likely they are to sell your home for top dollar and in an efficient timeframe. For example, at The Kelowna Condos Team, we have an in-house marketing department that works hard to give our listings maximum exposure across many different mediums. Getting a greater understanding of your potential agent’s marketing capabilities will tell you a lot about whether they are the right fit for you.

Do you have any references or client testimonials?
As with most industries, reviews are a very useful tool in real estate. Ask your agent if they have any references that you can contact or client testimonials that you can read. This will tell you a lot about your potential agent’s home selling skills. There’s no greater advertising than a past client.

How many clients are you currently representing?
This is really a way of finding out how dedicated your agent will be to your listing and your needs. If they’re too busy, you might not get a great level of service or attention to detail. If they’re not busy enough, that might indicate a deeper problem. Ultimately, you want to work with someone who is able to give you and your home the attention you deserve.

If you have any further questions about the local real estate market or selecting a Realtor®, please feel free to contact me directly. The questions above are just a sampling of some key points, but there are many important questions you could and should ask.

Questions to Ensure You Select the Right Realtor by Mark Walker | Realty Biz News