Five awkward questions you should ask before hiring a REALTOR®

When you hire an Edina Realty REALTOR®, you can rest assured that he or she has your best interests at heart. While you may find it awkward to ask them the questions that are really on your mind, we give you full permission to vet our agents by asking them the following five questions.

1. What is the market like right now, and how will that affect my ability to buy or sell?

Any real estate agent worth their salt will tell you that our current market can be a boon for both buyers and sellers. Great agents will dissect your personal financial situation to determine if you’ll be able to purchase in a certain area or to sell your property at a desired price.

2. Can I have the names and phone numbers of your recent clients?

You wouldn’t hire an employee without checking their references, so feel free to ask for the names and numbers of past clients. Ask these clients specifics on how they closed the deal, and if they had a positive overall experience. (Note: we do have plenty of rookie real estate agents entering the market, and it’s okay to ask them for personal or professional references instead.)

3. (Buyer’s agent) What do you know about the community where I want to buy?

There’s a reason you always hear that real estate is about location, location, location. Homes and demographics can vary one block to the next, so it’s critical that buyers hire an agent who specializes in their desired area. Ask this question to see how familiar the agent is with the homes, prices and other aspects of the community in which you’d like to live.

4. (Listing agent) How close is the initial asking price to the final sale price of your average client?

If the agent’s properties regularly sell for much lower than the initial asking price, it could mean that they tend to overprice their listed homes, or that they lack powerful negotiating skills. Ask for specifics to find out how they determine their asking price, and how they successfully try to sell at this price.

5. (Listing agent) How will you market my home?

When you work with an Edina Realty agent, you have the power of the market leader (for twelve years and counting) and the most popular local real estate website behind you. But our agents don’t stop there! Ask your potential agent how they’ll market your home online through email and social media, as well as “old school” methods like door-knocking, direct mail and more.