How to Interview a Realtor for a Listing in Utah County.
Important questions to ask Realtor in Utah County when searching for a listing agent.
Picking the right real estate agent in Utah County to list your home could make the difference between selling quickly at a good profit and settling for a low-ball offer. Here are some questions you should ask to ensure you get the right person working for you. I answer these common questions about my qualifications below.
What are your professional qualifications for listing my home?
Answer: I belong to the following associations and have acquired several certifications during my 15 year career selling homes in Utah County. CRS - Certified Residential Specialist, ABR - Accredited Buyers Representative, e-PRO - Internet Certified, QSC - Quality Service Certified, BYU Finance Alumni, National Association of Realtors, Utah County Association of Realtors, Wasatch Front Regional Multiple Listing Service, Principal Broker.
What’s your track record for selling homes in Utah County?
1) How many homes have you sold in the past year? A good Realtor typically sells one or two homes a month. Answer: I sold 52 Utah homes in 2009. You can view these homes on my website.
2) What’s the average length of time the homes you’ve listed have been on the market? Answer: My listings that are priced correctly usually sell with 30-120 days. The market is much different than it once was. Back in 2005-6 my average time to sell was less than 60 days.
3) How much of your business is repeat or referral business? Successful agents have satisfied past customers and are therefore more likely to satisfy you. Answer: Approximately 80% of my business is referral business. It is from past clients and friends of friends. After 15 years of selling around 800 homes in Utah the referral business is very important. We appreciate all our current and past clients.
Are you a disclosed limited or dual agent?
<:od><:od>This term means your agent is allowed to act on your behalf and simultaneously represent the person buying the house from you.Answer: I am a limited agent. This is a common practice in Utah. If you are working with an honest Realtor this is not a problem. I have never in my career had someone ask me to not represent the buyer in the same transaction. I am sure it happens with some agents.
Do you work the Utah County Real Estate Area on a Daily Basis?
<:od><:od>Look for a Utah County agent who knows your area well. He or she will have a good idea of the best price you can get for your home and should have a network of other agents who are searching for homes in your region.Answer: I have been working the Utah County Real Estate market continuously for 15 years. I just put a property for sale where they had a Realtor from Ogden. Why do some people hire Realtors in Salt Lake City to sell homes in Utah County? It doesn't make any sense. Why do people hire Realtors that are unfamiliar with their cities, schools and neighborhoods?
Do you have suggestions on ways to increase my home’s value?
A good listing agent should be able to tell you how to “stage” your home so it’s more appealing to potential buyers. Repainting in neutral tones, placing fresh flowers in the living room and home-baked cookies on the kitchen counter can speed up the sale of your home and put thousands of extra dollars in your pocket.Answer: Yes, we help our sellers stage their homes. We help with ideas on decluttering and preparing them for the market.
How often will the Realtor keep in touch with me?
Your Realtor should keep you regularly informed about potential buyers or real estate agents who have visited your home or expressed an interest in it, feedback from people who have viewed your home and all marketing activities. It’s not unreasonable to expect a daily telephone call, fax or e-mail with an update. Some offices have software that automatically notifies you, via e-mail or fax, every time someone tours your home.Answer: We contact our sellers on every single showing and give them feedback. It is a wonderful program and keeps the sellers up to date with the progress. We also contact our sellers every week usually on Friday or Saturday.
Will I be working with a single Realtor, or a member of your team?
An agent with many listings may hire employees to handle some aspects of the business, such as administrative work. There’s nothing wrong with a team effort to help you sell your home. But make sure that your agent is the one who will show your home, negotiate the sale and handle every other detail of the transaction. If your agent is taking a vacation in the near future, make sure you meet and are happy with the agent who will be filling in while he or she is away.Answer: Our team consists of two brokers and licensed buyer's agents only. We do not have administrators nor do farm out our updates to third parties like much of my competition. You are always dealing with an experienced agent on my team. I negotiate all the offers.
How will you price my home?
You don’t want to screen out potential buyers with an inflated price, or sell your home for less that market value. Your agent should be able to recommend a listing price based on a recent market analysis of your area that includes the recent selling price of homes similar in size, condition and amenities to yours.Answer: We will use experience and the Multiple Listing Service to establish the price.
How will you market my home in Utah County?
An agent should list your home with the local and national Multiple Listing Service (MLS), share details of the listing with other Realtors®, and market it on the Web. In addition, he or she should arrange an open house for real estate agents, regular open houses on weekends for the public, plus individual open houses for prospective buyers by appointment. This includes creating a detailed property fact sheet that can be passed out containing specific information on your home’s features and any home improvements you have made.Answer: We have published out 28 page marketing book to the web. Please review our marketing material.
What will be included in the listing agreement?
Most contracts specify that you can work with only one listing agent. They also spell out the beginning and ending dates, which should be negotiable. It’s reasonable to allow an agent three to six months to sell your home. Agents cannot, however, provide a written guarantee that they will sell your house within that period of time. The length of time it takes to sell a home depends on many factors (such as market forces) that are out of your agent’s control.How are Realtors Paid in Utah?
Most agents are paid entirely by commission. The person who is selling the house pays that commission from the proceeds of the sale. Answer: The commission is negotiable between you and your Realtor. Team Teasdale Realty rates.Can you provide me with references of homes SOLD in Utah County?
A good Realtor should be able to provide you with references from satisfied clients who have sold homes in a similar price range in the area where you live.
Answer: I get this question once in a while and have a stack of references. The questions is simply: How many would you like? I am greatful to say that I have a stack of letters, notes, and emails from past clients. I have published some letters of reccomendation online. If you have any other questions or would like to set up an interview with one of our team members give us a call.
Welcome to my Utah County Real Estate blog! We are located in Mapleton, Utah. Our team combines proven traditional real estate practices and represents the leading edge in the future of real estate marketing by merging internet technologies, service, communication, information and analysis with those traditional practices to provide our clients with an exceptional real estate experience and superior marketing.
Paul Teasdale, Principal Broker
ABR, CRS, e-PRO, QSC, Finance BYU
15 Years Experience, 800+ Homes Sold
Team Teasdale Realty, Utah County Real Estate
Phone: 801-491-7653
Categories: Hiring a Realtor in Utah, Utah Realtors
Tags: listing home utah county real estate market qualifications price listing agent utah county limited agent sold realtor professional team listing agreement
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