Published September 15, 2023
A List of Great Questions to Ask Your Realtor Before Hiring
Whether you have plans to sell your home in the Twin Cities metro or you've just moved to the area and are interested in buying a new home, you'll need to partner with an experienced real estate agent to ensure the best outcome. However, it can be hard to determine if a realtor will be a good fit for your needs based on your initial meeting. If you want to make certain that you're hiring the right realtor for the job, you need to ask the right questions.
5 Important Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent
How long have you been a realtor?
In real estate, like in all industries, experience matters. You want to make sure you're working with a real estate agent who has at least a few years of experience working in the Twin Cities market. This isn't to say a novice real estate agent will never do a good job, but it's safer to place your trust in a seasoned professional who knows the neighborhoods you'll be viewing like the back of their own hand.
Are you part of a team?
While solo realtors might be great at their job, you'll usually get more consistent services by working with a team of realtors. This way, if your primary agent is busy, one of their associates can fill in to help you out. It's also very likely that a real estate team in the Twin Cities area will cover a wider range of specialties than a single realtor will. A real estate team will also have a larger list of connections to useful contacts, including other buyers and sellers, mortgage lenders, home inspectors, movers, and more.
How many clients are you working with right now?
It's doubtful that a real estate agent will have no other clients and if they don't, it could be a red flag. On the other hand, you don't want to hire a realtor who's already helping a dozen clients to buy or sell a home. For the best service, find a realtor who has a few other clients but is confident that there's enough time in their schedule to make you a priority when needed.
How open is your availability?
Whether you're buying or selling a home, it's a process that requires a lot of time, effort, and commitment from both you and your realtor. Some real estate agents work full-time but others only work part-time and may not be able to meet all your needs or be there to help with last-minute problems. If a part-time realtor has a team of trusted associates who can help you out when they're unavailable, this isn't a big issue, but be wary of hiring a solo realtor with limited availability.
Do you usually work with buyers or sellers?
Some real estate agents exclusively work with home buyers in the Twin Cities. Others only work as a listing agent for property sellers. Still others do lots of both. Obviously, you want to work with a realtor whose expertise best matches your needs. If you're selling your home and you talk to a realtor who has much more experience working with buyers, you might be better off with someone else.
Ready to Get Started with a Realtor?
If you're ready to begin a journey toward buying or selling a home, it's time to take the first step by hiring a trusted realtor. Give the Chris Fritch Team with eXp Realty a call today if you're interested in working with one of our real estate agents in the Twin Cities metro area!
