Whether you want to downsize to a smaller house in Plymouth, Minnesota, move closer to your children’s school, or relocate to a lakefront property, deciding to sell your Plymouth home comes with many emotions and questions. You want to make sure that the partnership you have with your realtor will be productive, successful, and profitable. There are certain helpful questions to ask your real estate agent before you officially put your Plymouth home up for sale.
When you work with an experienced real estate agent, they will be eager to answer any questions you have about the selling process. It is essential to know about all the details, from marketing to closing costs, so that you feel fully prepared to sell your home. Are you curious to know some of the best questions to ask your real estate agent before selling your home in Plymouth? Read on to learn eight of the most important questions you can ask.
1. What Needs to Be Done to Get My Home Ready?
Your curb appeal and home value will impact how quickly your home sells and for how much. Before you put your home on the market, you will need to make sure it looks appealing to the average buyer. Make sure to ask your realtor about what preparations need to be made to get your home ready.
A knowledgeable real estate agent will know what upgrades are necessary and which details are a waste of time and money. The goal of preparing your home is to spend the least amount of money possible and to only upgrade things that will bring a return on your investment. A skilled realtor can walk through your home and immediately create a list of what you can do to get your home ready to impress buyers at open houses.
2. How Will My Home Be Staged?
Good marketing can make or break how well your Plymouth home does on the market. When more buyers are attracted to your home based on marketing, this demand typically results in a higher selling price. The best real estate agents will be able to tap into prospective buyers’ emotions and make them interested in your home.
One of the most crucial aspects of marketing is home staging. Be sure to ask your realtor how they think your home should be staged. Will utilizing virtual or physical staging help your home sell for the best price? A skilled realtor will have an expert opinion on staging your Plymouth home, with evidence to back it up.
3. How Did You Arrive at Your Suggested List Price?
Avoid asking your real estate agent something like, “What should my asking price be?” Instead, focus on the “how.” When you ask your agent how they arrived at your recommended selling price, this suggests that they:
- Have the knowledge to justify this price when negotiating with prospective buyers; and
- They aren’t suggesting an inflated price just to secure your business.
Realtors who cannot reasonably justify their suggested price will typically keep their analysis very vague. If your agent doesn’t back up their reasoning, that is a red flag.
4. What Are the Costs to Sell My Plymouth Home?
It is reasonable to want to know how much money you will end up with after your home sells. Every realtor makes a commission by helping you sell your home. During your first meeting with your realtor, be sure to ask about all the applicable closing costs. This will allow you to compare fees with other real estate agents you talk to.
5. Have You Sold Homes in Plymouth?
Working with a real estate agent who is knowledgeable about your area is invaluable. If your agent knows your Plymouth neighborhood well, they will be able to showcase the unique qualities of your location in their marketing efforts, such as:
- Proximity to schools
- Nearby parks
- Access to public transportation
- Restaurants and shopping centers
- Crime rates
Understanding the selling points of homes available in Plymouth will allow them to justify a higher asking price. If your realtor answers this question with “no,” then you’ll want to ask them about how they plan on obtaining the necessary information about your neighborhood to make your listing a success.
6. What Is Your Average Time on the Market?
In real estate, the “average days on market” is the number of days from when your home is first listed on the market to when you accept an offer (not when the sale closes). You should be able to find the average time spent on the market for your area through a quick internet search.
Be sure to ask your realtor how long their homes typically stay on the market. A higher-than-average number of days to sell indicates that the realtor overpriced their listings. On the other hand, a lower-than-average number typically means they underprice their homes.
7. How Often Will We Communicate?
When you decide to sell your Plymouth home, your real estate agent will be your number one resource. Most home selling journeys aren’t smooth from start to finish. It’s more than likely that you’ll experience some unexpected bumps along the road. You want a real estate agent who is not afraid to discuss both the good and bad with you. Partnering with a realtor who commits to frequent communication with you will amplify your home selling experience in Plymouth.
8. How Many Homes Have You Sold?
Last but not least, you want to get a gauge of how experienced and successful your Plymouth real estate agent is. Working with a minimally experienced agent will dramatically reduce your chances of making the most money possible on your listing.
When asking your realtor this question, be sure to focus on recent years. It’s possible that a real estate agent could have 20 years of experience but have sold minimal homes in recent years. You should partner with an agent who has the overall experience and has made numerous sales in recent times.
Find the Right Real Estate Agent Before Selling
Before you sell your Plymouth home, it is essential to partner with a proven, successful real estate agent so that you can maximize your profit. When initially meeting with real estate agents, be sure to ask the eight questions listed here so that you can find the best realtor for your home.
As you embark on selling your Plymouth home, you need a real estate agent you can trust. With the necessary experience and strong client relationships, Kerby and Cristina will help you quickly sell your Plymouth home for the best price. Contact us today to learn more.
