Your home is a huge part of your life, both financially and emotionally so the decision to sell a house is an important one. Finding a knowledgeable Vermont Realtor who can help you make informed decisions and advocate for you throughout the selling process is one of the first steps in getting your home on the market. Be sure to review these 10 questions that sellers should ask their listing agent.
1. What, in detail, is your experience in residential Vermont real estate sales?
This is an opportunity to learn about where this Realtor's area of expertise lies. Do they often work with homeowners that are selling lakefront properties? Your realtor should have in-depth knowledge of the local market that your home resides in whether it’s in the Lake Champlain area or other parts of Northwest Vermont.
2. What type of Vermont homes do you typically work with?
Consider conducting some research or ask to see their recently sold homes and if they have experience in sales with homes in your area. This will give you insight to their experience level and the characteristics of the homes they generally work with. Were they mostly waterfront homes or maybe seasonal cottages? Compare their past listings to your own home to see if they have similar characteristics or locations to the home you are planning to sell.
3. How many days did it take you to sell the average home? How did that compare to the overall market?
Have a conversation about the current market and your Realtor’s past sales to find out how successful they have been in their efforts to sell a home. There are many factors that determine the days on market until sale from the number of homes currently on the market that are similar to yours, buyer demand, and even time of year. In Grand Isle County, a home’s average days on market is down to 93 days.
4. How close to the initial asking prices of the homes you sold were the final sale prices?
This question will be a great indicator of your agents negotiation and problem-solving skills. The real estate company’s reputation could also help your agent to sell your home. For instance, Coldwell Banker homes sell for 13.7% higher than the NAR average.
5. How many homes did you sell last year?
When speaking with potential Vermont real estate agents, asking them specific numerical data will determine how successful and active they are selling homes in your area. The number of homes sold can give you insight to their experience level. Furthermore, when assessing the potential Realtors experience, request to see their recently sold listings.
6. What types of specific marketing systems and approaches will you use to sell my home?
Today, selling your home takes more than just putting a sign in the yard. Ask your realtor if they have a comprehensive marketing program that will attract buyers and help get your home sold faster. Services like drone photography are a crucial piece to capture the essence of a unique Vermont lakefront property. Ensure that your Realtor is using a combination of both traditional and cutting-edge digital methods to showcase your property such as taking high quality HDR photographs and virtual home tours.
7. Can you recommend service providers who can assist me in obtaining a mortgage, making repairs on my home, and other things I need done?
When selling your home, the best Vermont Realtors will have a list of a Local Vendors that they have worked with and can recommend. If you’re selling a lakefront property, make sure you have a waterfront listing specialist equipped with the resources to help you work through any unforeseen hiccups and help you answer queries related to Shore Land Protection, zoning and building regulations, and lake water systems.
8. Here's my business philosophy. What’s yours?
Voice how you operate professionally from the beginning, and see if your Realtor’s approach to business aligns. A Realtor should serve as your personal advocate throughout the process while offering their local knowledge to help you make informed decisions.
9. How will you keep me informed of the progress of my transaction?
Communication is key especially when working through negotiations and navigating the process of putting your Vermont home on the market. Whether it’s phone, e-mail, or text, ensure that your Realtor can meet your preferred method of receiving important information.
10. Could you please give me the names and phone numbers of three of your most recent clients?
When vetting your potential real estate agent, past client testimonials are a great way to find out if this agent has provided a satisfactory home selling experience. This will also help determine if there are any red flags, you may want to make note of an agent who is hesitant or cannot provide client references.