5 Questions Home Sellers Should Ask Potential Listing Agents

5 Questions Home Sellers Should Ask Potential Listing AgentsWhen it’s time to sell, homeowners are required to have a lot of trust. For most, a home is the biggest investment of their life, and they’re turning over the sale of that investment to a listing agent whom they probably don’t know all that well.

And not all listing agents are created equal. Each will probably have a presentation for the home sellers, pitching themselves as the one who is best-equipped to sell their home. But no matter how impressive the listing presentation is, home sellers can make sure a listing agent is a good fit for them by treating the presentation as kind of an interview. Instead of a one-way conversation, they should have some questions for the agent about his or her qualifications.

Here are five questions home sellers probably should ask potential listing agents:

What needs to be done to the home?

There really is no such thing as a perfect home. But a home’s condition, living space, and amenities can all affect the sale price and its time on the market, so home sellers should ask a potential listing agent what they need to do to the home to prepare it for sale. It might just be a coat of paint, or it could be something more substantial. If you come across a listing agent who doesn’t want to carefully walk through the home and give you advice, it might be time to look for another agent. Every home going up for sale needs something, and if an “expert” tells you otherwise, he or she might not have the expertise you’re looking for.

What is your marketing plan?

Most listing agents will be upfront about this and share with you all the ways they market a home. Almost every buyer starts a home search online, so home sellers should make sure that the agent has a solid online presence. This means asking for current online listings to examine and even asking about things such as website impressions and social media following sizes. “I sell $10 million dollars worth of homes each year” is a common marketing “hook” for listing agents, but that statistic doesn’t necessarily mean anything for your home. So sellers should feel free to ask HOW that’s accomplished.

Do you use professional photos?

Again, because of how important your home’s online image is, it’s necessary to put your home’s best foot forward. Professional photographs, taken by a photographer with experience in shooting homes, are almost a necessity. Great photos might not sell a home by themselves, but poor ones can definitely sabotage a home sale.

Do you have access to a buyer database?

Agents who specialize in listing homes might not have as much contact with buyers as someone who’s heavily involved with buyers. So while it’s not a deal-breaker if your listing agent hasn’t built a contact list of potential buyers, it doesn’t hurt to ask if someone else in their office has a database of qualified people already looking for a home like yours. A simple thing such as having the right contacts can often speed up the home-selling process. An agent with access to buyer contacts is a plus.

What promises won’t you make?

A listing agent who makes their presentation to you wants to get your home under contract. Sometimes, this involves making a lot of promises or assurances. Mostly, these assurances will be the same for every agent – the experienced ones all know what home sellers want to hear. But a good listing agent also tells you up front what you might not want to hear but need to hear. There are few better ways to make sure an agent is being upfront and honest with you than by asking them for the assurances or promises they can’t or won’t make.

Home sellers are entrusting the sale of the biggest investment of their lives to someone who’s often a stranger. Selling a home is a big job, and asking some questions of potential listing agents can help make sure someone qualified is getting that job.

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Situated on a .28 acre lot in Holland is this approximately 1878 sq. ft. home. Features include 4 bedrooms, 1 full bathroom. a partial unfinished basement with a walk-up entrance, a detached garage, and a 36X48X14 high pole barn type block building. The kitchen offers an abundance of oak cabinets, an eat-at bar and a range and refrigerator. Just off of the kitchen is a large dining room and adjacent to the dining area is the oversized living room. There is also an extra room that could be made into the drop zone area or a main floor laundry room. There are 2 bedrooms on the main floor as well as 2 additional bedrooms on the upper level. The unfinished basement is great for storage. The roof on the home and the large building are approximately 3 years old. $210,000 Active

208 E Mary Street Holland, Indiana

4 Beds 1 Baths 1,878 SqFt 0.28 Acres

Listing courtesy of Gary Schnell from SELL4FREE-WELSH REALTY CORPORATION.

Nestled in a quiet cul-de-sac on Jasper’s desirable west side, this beautifully maintained 3-bedroom, 3-bath home offers comfort, convenience, and style—all in one perfect package. From the moment you arrive, the fresh landscaping and inviting curb appeal draw you in. Step onto the welcoming covered front porch, and enter into a spacious foyer that opens up to a bright 17' x 17' living room with cathedral ceilings, creating a warm and open feel.  The eat-in kitchen, updated in June 2022, features stunning Quartz countertops and backsplash, a new sink and disposal, and upgraded appliances installed in August 2023—perfect for any culinary enthusiast.  A split floor plan offers added privacy, with the spacious owner's suite boasting a large walk-in closet and a newly installed cultured marble walk-in shower with glass doors (June 2024). Two additional bedrooms and a full bath are located on the opposite side of the home. Head downstairs to a fully finished basement that’s an entertainer’s dream. Enjoy a custom bar, expansive rec room ideal for movie nights or ping pong, a full bath, a dedicated office area, a bonus room currently used as a fourth bedroom, and a generous storage room with built-in shelving. Outdoor living is just as impressive with a maintenance-free deck and screened porch, offering the perfect spot to relax and unwind. A 2-car attached garage and spacious driveway provide ample parking. Additional Features & Updates: Roof & tankless on-demand water heater – June 2020 Kitchen appliances & washer/dryer – August 2023 Furnace with Ecobee Premium SmartSensor thermostat – February 2024 New sump pump – April 2025 Jambini magnetic cabinet locks – June 2020 This move-in-ready home has it all—modern updates, versatile living spaces, and a peaceful yet convenient location. $329,700 Pending

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Listing courtesy of Brenda Welsh from SELL4FREE-WELSH REALTY CORPORATION.

Situated on a .47 acre corner lot is this "move in ready" 1258 sq. ft. ranch style home featuring an attractive stone and vinyl exterior. Features include an open concept floor plan with a neutral decor throughout including laminate and ceramic tile floors and carpeting in all bedrooms. This home offers 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms with wider doorways. The extra large 25X27 attached garage is heated and cooled and includes a work bench area and cabinets. There is a rear covered porch and an additional patio with a pergola, and a 10X12 storage building. The driveway offers a back-out space for extra parking and ease of exiting the driveway as well as a new RV parking pad. Also included is an underground invisible pet fence.  Additional updates include all LED lighting and new carpeting in all 3 bedrooms as well as a new range in the kitchen. All kithcen appliances as well as the washer and dryer are included along with custom window shades. $262,900 Pending

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Listing courtesy of Gary Schnell from SELL4FREE-WELSH REALTY CORPORATION.