Questions to Ask Every Realtor Who Wants to List Your Home: Bellingham Real Estate with Kathy Auerbach

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Questions to Ask Every Realtor Who Wants to List Your Home

Realtors who are asking for a listing vary in their expertise in marketing real property. Before hiring a person to help you sell your home, take the time to interview her or him. Here are the key questions that will help you decide which realtor is "right" for you.

Are you a fulltime professional Realtor? How many years have you been a fulltime Realtor?
What designations do you have, and when did you achieve them?
Do you provide a Homebook for prospective buyers?
What is your average days-on-market per listings sold?
What is your average list-to-sales price ratio?
What types of report forms do you provide to sellers?
Will you be marketing in my neighborhood?
May I see a sample property brochure?
What is your written marketing plan?
May I see your resume?
How many homes have you sold?
Do you use the Internet in your business? If so, how?
Will you advertise my property online, and if so, what are those website addresses?
How will you stay in touch with me during the selling process? How often will you do so?
May I contact any of your past clients for a personal reference?
If I am not satisfied with your performance, how can I terminate our listing agreement?
How do you develop the most appropriate pricing of my/our home?
Who pays for your advertising?
Who determines where and when my property is marketed and promoted?
What one thing sets you apart from other agents who want to sell my property?
How can I reach you?

Comparison shopping is important.
It is important to interview more than one realtor before deciding who you will hire. You can also compare me--in advance--to any others you choose to invite into your home. Here are my answers to those same questions listed above.

Are you a fulltime professional Realtor? Yes. I don’t help people buy or sell real property in my spare time, after I have finished another job, or only on weekends or holidays. My commitment is to each of my clients—fully and completely—before, during, and after we have identified the home they want to buy and/or we have found a buyer for the home they wish to sell.
What designations do you have and when did you achieve them? I am an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), a designation I received in 2000. In 2002, I received my GRI designation, meaning I completed a 90-hour set of classes from the Realtor Institute. In 2004, I received my Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation, which requires more than 90 hours of class time and up to five years of experience helping people to buy or sell real property. Currently, I am pursuing my Associate Broker designation.
Do you provide a Homebook for prospective buyers? Yes. Each such book is prominently displayed in the home that is for sale. The elements in the Homebook are designed to answer questions that arise when a prospective buyer is previewing the home. By providing answers to these questions immediately, potential barriers to wriitng a Purchase and Sale Agreement are minimized.
What is your average days-on-market per listings sold? 19-39 days (for the last three years). This is substantially shorter than for other agents' listings.
What is your average list-to-sales price ratio? 98.88%. My lowest list-to-sale price ratio was 95%. To achieve my average, several of my listings have sold at or above full price.
What types of report forms do you provide to sellers? I use several means by which sellers are kept informed. If the seller is internet-connected, I provide an automatic feedback method through a personal website where they can go, at any time of the day or night, to see all marketing activity that has occurred to date. For all sellers, a monthly report form is provided identifying all marketing activity. In addition, phone reports are arranged for sellers who prefer this method of reporting.
Will you be marketing in my neighborhood? Yes. It is possible that one or more of your neighbors may know someone wanting to move here. My marketing will alert them to the availability of your home.
May I see a sample property brochure? Yes. I will provide you with several when we meet to review your home sale needs.
What is your written marketing plan? I personalize each marketing plan to the specific property being sold. I will identify the most appropriate ways to market your property. If you wish certain other things done as well, we will consider them.
May I see your resume? Yes. I will give you a copy.
How many homes have you sold? Each year, I sell approximately 30 properties within Whatcom County; I also assist in the sale of several others through referrals to other agents for clients whose properties need selling out of my area. My goal is exceptional service to a select group of clients.
Do you use the Internet in your business? If so, how? Currently, I have a primarily website (www.KathysRealEstate.com) where all my listings appear. In addition, my website is linked to 10 local websites directing people who are surfing by neighborhood or city name, as well as to the local Keller Williams office site (www.kwbellingham.com) and the international Keller Williams site (www.kw.com). As a result of these links, I can be found via a variety of search engines. I receive 2,000 - 3,000 hits per month on my site and my statistiscs reports on those hits are set so that I can identify how many people have not only seen a particular home, but also a particular room in a given home! I have found that a picture is worth far more than even well-chosen words. Therefore, I take those all-important photos myself and make sure that they show each property to best advantage.
Will you advertise my property online? Yes! Many of my buyers ask for my help online, and I receive inquiries daily about properties that appear on my websites. Click on Search My Listings on this website for an example of this online service.
How will you stay in touch with me during the selling process? And, how frequently will you do so? By whatever means you prefer. Some of my sellers want to use the automatic internet method; others prefer weekly email reports of the marketing activity that I am providing--and the results such work is generating! Some sellers want regular phone calls. And, other sellers simply prefer a monthly memo outlining what has occurred. The client dictates how and how often I will be in touch with marketing reports.
May I contact any of your past clients for a personal reference? Yes. How many names would you like? Let me know and I will happily provide you a list of clients who have given me permission for you to call.
If I am not satisfied with your performance, how can I terminate our listing agreement? Simply by telling me you wish to fire me. Within 24 hours, you will have the form that cancels the listing. By signing and returning it, the listing is cancelled—no questions asked. I call this my “easy exit” policy.
How do you develop the most appropriate pricing of my property? By doing my homework. I pay close attention to the market in each neighborhood where I am selling property. I will share that information with you in advance of any discussion about the most appropriate pricing of your property. Property that is not priced appropriately will not attract buyers. My job is to consult and advise you—based on information designed to make clear what buyers are willing to pay for properties like yours. By setting aside emotions and looking at the facts, together we will identify an appropriate price for your property.
Who pays for your advertising? I do.
Who determines where and when my home is marketed and promoted? I do--in consultation with you. You know your home better than anyone else. Together, we will identify the unique features that will make your home stand out from the crowd and bring that all-important buyer who writes an offer to your door!
What one thing sets you apart from other agents who want to sell my property? I take my job seriously, even as I enjoy—immensely—working with people to help them solve their real estate concerns. My goal is to reduce the stress of a home sale and relocation. I am your consultant from start to finish and beyond. No question or concern is too small. I view our relationship as a team adventure.
How can I reach you? When you need to reach me, you can do so directly via any one of my phone, email, or postal methods. In addition, if I am not available, feel free to leave a message with my assistant. He knows where I am and how to reach me. And, when I am out of town at a class or seminar or have taken some vacation time to recharge my personal batteries, my assistant, and another realtor colleague--identified on all my phones--will be able to assist you in my absence.

Together, we'll get it done!

Printable version


	You are here: Home > Articles > For Sellers > Questions and Answers Questions to Ask Every Realtor Who Wants to List Your Home Realtors who are asking for a listing vary in their expertise in marketing real property. Before hiring a person to help you sell your home, take the time to interview her or him. Here are the key questions that will help you decide which realtor is "right" for you. Are you a fulltime professional Realtor? How many years have you been a fulltime Realtor? What designations do you have, and when did you achieve them? Do you provide a Homebook for prospective buyers? What is your average days-on-market per listings sold? What is your average list-to-sales price ratio? What types of report forms do you provide to sellers? Will you be marketing in my neighborhood? May I see a sample property brochure? What is your written marketing plan? May I see your resume? How many homes have you sold? Do you use the Internet in your business? If so, how? Will you advertise my property online, and if so, what are those website addresses? How will you stay in touch with me during the selling process? How often will you do so? May I contact any of your past clients for a personal reference? If I am not satisfied with your performance, how can I terminate our listing agreement? How do you develop the most appropriate pricing of my/our home? Who pays for your advertising? Who determines where and when my property is marketed and promoted? What one thing sets you apart from other agents who want to sell my property? How can I reach you? Comparison shopping is important. It is important to interview more than one realtor before deciding who you will hire. You can also compare me--in advance--to any others you choose to invite into your home. Here are my answers to those same questions listed above. Are you a fulltime professional Realtor? Yes. I don’t help people buy or sell real property in my spare time, after I have finished another job, or only on weekends or holidays. My commitment is to each of my clients—fully and completely—before, during, and after we have identified the home they want to buy and/or we have found a buyer for the home they wish to sell. What designations do you have and when did you achieve them? I am an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), a designation I received in 2000. In 2002, I received my GRI designation, meaning I completed a 90-hour set of classes from the Realtor Institute. In 2004, I received my Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation, which requires more than 90 hours of class time and up to five years of experience helping people to buy or sell real property. Currently, I am pursuing my Associate Broker designation. Do you provide a Homebook for prospective buyers? Yes. Each such book is prominently displayed in the home that is for sale. The elements in the Homebook are designed to answer questions that arise when a prospective buyer is previewing the home. By providing answers to these questions immediately, potential barriers to wriitng a Purchase and Sale Agreement are minimized. What is your average days-on-market per listings sold? 19-39 days (for the last three years). This is substantially shorter than for other agents' listings. What is your average list-to-sales price ratio? 98.88%. My lowest list-to-sale price ratio was 95%. To achieve my average, several of my listings have sold at or above full price. What types of report forms do you provide to sellers? I use several means by which sellers are kept informed. If the seller is internet-connected, I provide an automatic feedback method through a personal website where they can go, at any time of the day or night, to see all marketing activity that has occurred to date. For all sellers, a monthly report form is provided identifying all marketing activity. In addition, phone reports are arranged for sellers who prefer this method of reporting. Will you be marketing in my neighborhood? Yes. It is possible that one or more of your neighbors may know someone wanting to move here. My marketing will alert them to the availability of your home. May I see a sample property brochure? Yes. I will provide you with several when we meet to review your home sale needs. What is your written marketing plan? I personalize each marketing plan to the specific property being sold. I will identify the most appropriate ways to market your property. If you wish certain other things done as well, we will consider them. May I see your resume? Yes. I will give you a copy. How many homes have you sold? Each year, I sell approximately 30 properties within Whatcom County; I also assist in the sale of several others through referrals to other agents for clients whose properties need selling out of my area. My goal is exceptional service to a select group of clients. Do you use the Internet in your business? If so, how? Currently, I have a primarily website (www.KathysRealEstate.com) where all my listings appear. In addition, my website is linked to 10 local websites directing people who are surfing by neighborhood or city name, as well as to the local Keller Williams office site (www.kwbellingham.com) and the international Keller Williams site (www.kw.com). As a result of these links, I can be found via a variety of search engines. I receive 2,000 - 3,000 hits per month on my site and my statistiscs reports on those hits are set so that I can identify how many people have not only seen a particular home, but also a particular room in a given home! I have found that a picture is worth far more than even well-chosen words. Therefore, I take those all-important photos myself and make sure that they show each property to best advantage. Will you advertise my property online? Yes! Many of my buyers ask for my help online, and I receive inquiries daily about properties that appear on my websites. Click on Search My Listings on this website for an example of this online service. How will you stay in touch with me during the selling process? And, how frequently will you do so? By whatever means you prefer. Some of my sellers want to use the automatic internet method; others prefer weekly email reports of the marketing activity that I am providing--and the results such work is generating! Some sellers want regular phone calls. And, other sellers simply prefer a monthly memo outlining what has occurred. The client dictates how and how often I will be in touch with marketing reports. May I contact any of your past clients for a personal reference? Yes. How many names would you like? Let me know and I will happily provide you a list of clients who have given me permission for you to call. If I am not satisfied with your performance, how can I terminate our listing agreement? Simply by telling me you wish to fire me. Within 24 hours, you will have the form that cancels the listing. By signing and returning it, the listing is cancelled—no questions asked. I call this my “easy exit” policy. How do you develop the most appropriate pricing of my property? By doing my homework. I pay close attention to the market in each neighborhood where I am selling property. I will share that information with you in advance of any discussion about the most appropriate pricing of your property. Property that is not priced appropriately will not attract buyers. My job is to consult and advise you—based on information designed to make clear what buyers are willing to pay for properties like yours. By setting aside emotions and looking at the facts, together we will identify an appropriate price for your property. Who pays for your advertising? I do. Who determines where and when my home is marketed and promoted? I do--in consultation with you. You know your home better than anyone else. Together, we will identify the unique features that will make your home stand out from the crowd and bring that all-important buyer who writes an offer to your door! What one thing sets you apart from other agents who want to sell my property? I take my job seriously, even as I enjoy—immensely—working with people to help them solve their real estate concerns. My goal is to reduce the stress of a home sale and relocation. I am your consultant from start to finish and beyond. No question or concern is too small. I view our relationship as a team adventure. How can I reach you? When you need to reach me, you can do so directly via any one of my phone, email, or postal methods. In addition, if I am not available, feel free to leave a message with my assistant. He knows where I am and how to reach me. And, when I am out of town at a class or seminar or have taken some vacation time to recharge my personal batteries, my assistant, and another realtor colleague--identified on all my phones--will be able to assist you in my absence. *Together, we'll get it done!* Printable version
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