Hiring a listing agent is vital to your entire experience as a home seller. The person you pick will be involved in arranging your home for sale, starting a listing price, marketing your home and facilitating the transaction.

While you might be lured to hire a friend who has a real estate experience or your co-worker’s brother, be reminded that the person you enjoy meeting for lunch isn’t always the best listing agent to represent your interests. That person could turn out to be the right listing agent for you, but before you pick him or her, take the time to get recommendations for some agents and interview them.

Remember the agent who assisted you to buy your house? If you were pleased with this person, consider using him or her to help sell your home (if this agent also works with sellers). If your previous agent mainly deals with buyers, ask for a recommendation for a seller’s agent.

Family, Friends, and Co-workers

Make sure these are not just agents who are friends of friends, but listing agents who have recently and successfully sold a home for one of your contacts. Your attorney, accountant or other local professionals. They have probably worked with agents and may have good recommendations.

Research real estate teams in your area that represent a lot of homes like yours.

Use Modern Technology As You Research

1. Look for websites of real estate teams that are good prospects based on the number of their home listings. You will find a lot of details on homes that the real estate groups have sold (how long on the market, for what price, and so on).

2. Once you have at least two or three possible prospects, check out the agents’ websites for details on his or her experience, background, testimonials and success in selling homes like yours—both in terms of type of property and geographic area.

3. Do you have a favorite social media site? Take a look at their social media presence. Facebook is the most popular and powerful for marketing your home as people who have liked their page are typically local and live in the immediate area.  Are they sharing listings with their social media community?

Call all the agents and describe your needs over the phone. Saying you’re satisfied with the call, next step is to schedule interviews with the agents before choosing one who seems like a good candidate.

Great Questions To Ask During The Interview

A listing agent naturally has a listing presentation he or she provides for sellers. Normally they present in the sellers’ home so that he or she can get a look at the property and its condition. Some of your questions can be answered during the meeting, but if not, you may want to ask the following:

Do you have any advice for me about the state of my home?

In what price range do you sell most of your homes?

Are you a member of the National Association of Realtors?

How many sales did you complete last year?

What is your marketing plan for my home?

Where will you look for buyers?

How often should I expect to hear from you once my home is out on the market?

Are you going provide me with regular feedback and updates about potential buyers?

Click here to download these list of questions so that you can have them with you when you interview a Listing Agent.

Five ways you can find out more about your agent before you hire:

1. Talk with recent clients

2. Look up the licensing

3. Select an agent with the right credentials

4. Research how long the agent has been in business

5. Look at their current listings

Choosing a listing agent can be an adventure and it’s the most crucial thing you have to do if you want to sell your home. Remember you are paying for your agent’s knowledge and expertise, so listen carefully to the guidance you receive and choose your agent thoroughly.

Need help? Call The Trembley Group at 843.945.1880 ext. 100 and we’ll help you look for the perfect listing or buyers agent!

At The Trembley Group, we pride ourselves on being the experts at more than just selling real estate. We are local residents, some of us have been here for a lifetime. The rest of us will be here until the end of time. We love living, working, and playing in the diverse backyard of Coastal Carolina, and look forward to helping you live and love your dreams soon too. Please reach out to us by phone or email for personalized service and one-on-one advice. 

About our blog

Our agents write often to give you the latest insights on owning a home or property in the Myrtle Beach, SC area.