How to Interview a REALTOR®: Key Questions & Proactive Marketing Strategies

How to Choose the Right REALTOR® for Selling Your Home: Key Questions & Marketing Strategies

When interviewing potential REALTORS®, it’s important to ask the right questions to ensure you select an expert who will effectively market your property and guide you through a successful sale. Here's a comprehensive list of questions that will help you evaluate your options:

1. Where will the buyer for my home likely come from?
Will the buyer be a move-up buyer (looking to upgrade) or a first-time homebuyer (likely renting currently)? Understanding the target audience helps tailor marketing efforts.

2. How do you plan to market to this specific buyer?
Ask how your REALTOR® plans to proactively reach your target buyer. What unique marketing strategies do they use beyond the basic 5 P’s? (More on the 5 P’s below.)

3. What sets you apart from other REALTORS®?
Beyond company statistics, what specific actions and strategies does the agent implement to promote your listing and get it sold?

4. What can I do to improve my home’s marketability?
Get expert advice on any necessary upgrades or changes that will make your home more appealing to potential buyers.

5. What are the potential drawbacks of my home?
Understanding possible buyer objections up front helps you prepare and address concerns effectively during showings.

6. Would a buyer incentive be beneficial for my home?
Ask about possible buyer incentives to encourage offers. Your REALTOR® can recommend creative solutions to make your home more attractive to potential buyers.

7. What additional marketing strategies do you use?
In addition to the basics, an experienced agent will employ proactive marketing strategies, including:

• Installing a brochure box on the yard sign
• Using QR codes on sign riders and advertisements
• Social media advertising (Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
• Professional, color highlight brochures for showings
• Internet and cable TV advertising
• Direct mail campaigns
• Personal advertising beyond the company’s typical promotion
• Interior highlight cards for showings
• 800-number info sign riders
• Personal brochures or professional resumes
• Hosting broker caravan tours with additional incentives like lunch or a raffle

What Are the Basic Marketing Steps Every REALTOR® Should Take?
The average REALTOR® will follow the basic "5 P’s" of marketing a home:

• Put a "For Sale" sign in your yard
• List the property in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
• Advertise the home across key platforms
• Add the home to broker caravan tours
• Schedule public open houses

Why Go Beyond the Basics?
While the "5 P’s" are standard, working with a REALTOR® who offers additional, proactive marketing strategies will significantly increase your property’s exposure and your chances of a quicker, more profitable sale.