41 Questions

Here are the best 41 questions to ask your prospective agent.  Some of these have answers, and some have MY answers. Perhaps the first question to ask yourself: are you calling a friend, or are you calling an expert? Feel free to use this as a template to interview your next agent (do it on the phone to make it easier).

1. Are you full-time, or part-time, and how long? I have been full time for 19 years.
2. Do you have a team? No one can be great at everything, and the average agent needs to handle all aspects of your sale alone. My team of specialists will absolutely blow the competition out of the water.
3. Will you represent me exclusively or will you represent both the buyer and the seller in the transaction? Be careful how your prospective agent answers this question. You should strongly consider having your agent be your advocate, and no one else’s, from start to finish.
4. Do you own a home? Fact: The MAJORITY of agents don’t. I do. I have bought and sold 27 times. I own the home I live in, and own investment property so I understand exactly what you are going through.
5. How large is your company and its network? My office has 210 agents and we meet WEEKLY. We are a debt-free and growing national company, with projections of being #1 nationally in 2012.  We have over 180 signs in the area. The more signs, the more buyer calls.
6. Are you a REALTOR®, and what TYPE of license do you have? I have been a Realtor®, AND a BROKER, since 1993. Over 75% of licensees in California do NOT have a broker’s license. Many licensees are not Realtors®. A Realtor® subscribes to a strict code of ethics, and pays dues to the National Association of Realtors®.
7. What kind of experience do you have? In 2011, about 21% of all agents in our region closed at least 1 transaction (Source: MLS).  In 2010 we closed 29.  In 2011 we closed 32.  As of November 2012 I have closed 35.
   
8. Do you live and work locally? Yes.
9. How many phone calls do you make a week? I make at least 150 per week, I am constantly trying to put buyers and sellers together.
10. Do you have any accreditation’s?  I am a Graduate, Realtor® Institute (GRI).  I am also a CPS (California Probate Specialist), the only certification in California.
    
11. What is your Unique Selling Proposition? I am happy to show you.  But one very important item 99.999% of all agents will not put in writing is that they will not represent a buyer on your transaction unless you specifically give me permission.  You see, I believe you deserve to know that you have an unwavering advocate from the beginning to the end, and you should not have to worry about your agent making double commissions and representing the other side.
    
12. How many listings/sales do you have in the past year? I am in the top 1% regionally and nationally since 2010. Prior to that I was in the top 3% to 4%. In 2010 I helped 28 families.  In 2011 I helped 32.
    
13. How do you stay up on current trends? Not only do I train other agents, I invest 3 days a year in Austin, Texas for intense training at corporate headquarters.
14. How will you market my home? I’d be happy to show you.
15. Do you have a performance guarantee? Yes.  I also have an easy cancellation policy.
16. Tell me about the culture of your office? At Keller Williams we share the office profits, so everyone helps with ideas, solutions, and there are no little secrets. There is open communication from top to bottom. At Keller Williams you really are hiring the entire office. I attend our weekly meetings.
17. Do you have a website that will list my home? I have hundreds I have already created.
    
18. How would you develop pricing strategies for our home? I would be happy to show you, and explain absorption rate pricing.
    
19. What are the BEST proven strategies to get top dollar in a reasonable time? I would be happy to show those to you.
20. Are you detail oriented and prepared for eventual hiccups? Please read my testimonials.
21. Can we review all documents before we sign anything? I will always give you that opportunity. I never push.
22. How will you handle multiple offers? I would be happy to show you many strategies.
23. Can you recommend other professionals you trust, such as inspectors, lenders, attorneys, estate sale people, if needed, etc? Yes, I have amassed many very talented professional contacts over the years and I am happy to share them with you.
24. What percentage of your business is based on referrals?  About 80 percent.
25. Can I call your past 50+ clients? Absolutely, and I will give you their cell phone numbers.
26. What’s your pricing/marketing philosophy 30/60/90 days down the road? I will give you many options.
27. Can you tell me about the inspection process, and what are the many renegotiation strategies available to me? I am happy to show you.
28. What is active versus passive contingency removal? Most agents cannot explain this very important question.  Ask me.
    
29. What are liquidated damages, and what is an arbitration clause?  Ask me.
30. Please explain specifically how title insurance works in a worst case scenario.  I would be happy to explain a title policy.
31. Do you know how a licensed appraiser will look at the market data?  I will be happy to explain the most prominent type of bank appraisal, the Fannie Mae form.  I will also explain the other types of appraisals and BPOs.
32. Please explain title insurance and why most transactions have 2 title policies.  I am happy to explain this interesting item.
33. Please explain supplemental property taxes.  I am happy to explain property tax.  Also, ask me for my “property tax wheel”.
    
34. How many foreclosures or short-sale transactions have you handled? We always have a short sale or foreclosure transaction in process.
35. How will you keep me informed? I am happy to keep you informed at least once a week via email, but when things get busy you will get updated immediately.
36. Have you ever been fired? I never have.
37. What is your education background before your real estate career, and may I see your resume? I have been selling for 18 years, and have a BBA in Finance.
38. How do you market luxury properties? I would be happy to show you.
39. What type of support and supervision does your brokerage office provide to you? We have in-house support staff, access to a real estate attorney, in-house escrow, and our files are constantly monitored and audited.
40. Can I visit your office, and what can I expect? Come by for a tour, we are a fun, positive, intelligent and efficient group. Our office is clean, comfortable and organized. It reflects who we are. When I am in the office, I am almost always on the phone trying to find buyers and sellers.  I have 2 headsets on almost all the time.
    
41. Why haven’t you called Mike Bell for a no pressure no obligation 20 minute consultation?