What are the top 5 questions a Seller should ask when interviewing possible Listing Agents?

I have 15, but here's the Top 5:
1. Do you work as a full-time Realtor?
2. What is your list price-to-sale price ratio?
3. How many listings do you have at this time?
4. Do you have real estate education beyond licensing requirements; do you have any designations?
5. How many potential buyers in your database?

Find out the other 10 questions at www.stanaker.com!

1. How many transactions did you close last year.
2. How will you promote my home online?
3. Do you work after 5 and are you available on the weekends?
4. Besides using HAR what examples can you *show me* that you do to mkt your properties.
5. What makes your approach unique?

1. How Long Have You Been in the Business?
2. What is Your Average List-Price-to-Sales-Price Ratio?
3. What is Your Best Marketing Plan or Strategy for My Needs?
4. Will You Please Provide References?
5. What Are the Top Three Things That Separate You From Your Competition?

1) Are you a full time professional?

This is a must! You want a professional to list your property. Not somebody that is practicing real estate as a hobby.

2) Have you sold homes in my area? Are you knowledgeable about my area?

Knowing the area is critical. Your agent must know about schools, flooding, deed restrictions and other issues that are unique to your area. You don't want the average buyer calling to be more knowledgeable than your agent about the area. How will they answer questions and overcome objections?

3) Approximately how many transactions have you closed?

They probably will not know the exact number unless it's 2 or 3. As long as they have closed 30 or 40 transactions, they have some experience. Everybody has to learn, but you don't want the learning to take place at your expense. There is just no substitute for experience.

4) If you are busy, is there another person I can call to help me?

Hopefully you will not be the only client that your agent is working with. It can be a great benefit if your agent has a team member or assistant that you can call if something critical comes up while your agent is unavailable.

5) Do you generally work in this price range?

I think this is a really important question to ask! Although some agents effectively work in a wide range of price points, some specialize in affordable housing or luxury homes. If the agent you are interviewing generally sells affordable housing, they may be clueless about what it takes to market a high-end home. If all of an agent's other listings are $800K plus, your $100K listing may not be a priority to them. Again, many agents do a great job working in a variety of price points, but I think it's a question that should be addressed before listing your home.

1. Tell me about your Real Estate experience
2. Is Real Estate a hobby or a career for you
3. What was the last continuing ed class you took
4. What seperates you from your competition
5. What will you do to sell my house

1. Why should I hire you?
2. How long have you been in business?
3. What designations do you have?
4. What are you going to do to market my home?
5. How often (and how) will you communicate with me?

1) Comparable price per ft. sold in the subdivision.
2) Does he or she do open houses ?
3) Past References.
4) Whether to remodel the house or not
5) Average Don the Market average.