At the end of the day, everyone seems to be promising the same thing, but how do you really know?

 

In this article, I’d love to help you get some clarity on this question by providing you with a few simple questions I would ask a potential real estate agent candidate I was considering hiring - knowing what I know now and assuming I wasn’t in real estate myself. I know it’s kind of a different angle than you might have expected!

Before I do, here are a few points to consider:

- Never choose an agent based on list price or commission percentage. Unfortunately, some agents engage in activities known as ‘buying the listing,’ meaning they intentionally inflate the suggested list price and cut their commission in order to get the listing ... with the intention of asking for a price reduction later. Especially in a market like we are having right now, many sellers are still somewhat out of touch with the reality that prices really have come down, and what homes used to sell for a few months ago just isn’t the case anymore. You might find yourself in a really unfortunate predicament if you decide to listen to someone who will tell you what you want to hear instead of telling you the truth.

- Don’t be fooled by the number of signs one particular agent might have in your area, and pay very close attention to the number of properties that agent is actually selling. You want a quality agent, not a quantity one.

- The ideal scenario would be a referral by someone whom you completely trust. Raving fans speak louder than any amount of self-promotion ever could. The only thing I would be careful about is the area of expertise. If you hire an agent who comes highly recommended but has never sold a house outside of Victoria, I’d probably look for a local professional who understands the area.

 

Now that you have short-listed the potential candidates, here’s how to find the real deal. Some of these questions may seem ‘generic,’ but remember; it’s the right answer you’re after.

This is another ‘generic’ question, but an interesting one nonetheless. Listing it on the MLS, putting up a for-sale sign, and waiting for a buyer to show up … is not a strategy.  

Be careful here. Having been in the industry for 55 years isn’t necessarily an asset. You want an agent who has been working long enough to have developed skill and expertise (or is teaming up with someone who has) but is not out of touch with the ever-changing world of technology and marketing.

We're digging deeper with this one. This may sound odd, if an agent has a ‘hopper pass’ and is moving from one place to another ... are they going to be mature, professional, skilled at building and maintaining relationships and committed to you as a client long term? 

This will show how well your agent candidate knows his or her numbers and, more importantly, will give you a pretty good idea of what results to expect. Make sure they back it up.

This question is related to question #1 and is equally important. Talk, after all, is cheap.

Oh, this one is important. You're paying for a result, not a timeline. Do you really want to have to keep your house spotless and be disrupted for showings for a longer time period? What would you say if you did a great job on a project at work and finished it twice as fast as expected and your boss asked if you would take less pay for it? You are not going to get a “Yes” to this question from a quality, skilled gent. Why? Well, if they are that quick to give up their pay, how skilled do you think they are at negotiating?