Questions to Ask Your Real Estate Agent

Questions to Ask Your Real Estate Agent

Knowing which questions to ask a realtor during the selling or buying process is very important for your peace of mind. A good real estate agent will be able sell your home faster, get you the most bang for your buck when looking to buy and make the buying and selling process much less stressful. To make sure you are working with the right realtor for you, consider asking the following questions!

How Did You Come Up with Our Suggested Listed Price?

There are many factors that go into listing a property at a good price. Your realtor will most likely consider many variables and should be able to explain those to you in detail. You should also ask your realtor if you can review a CMA for your home or property. A CMA, or comparative market analysis, basically looks at around 10 properties in the area of a home that are comparable to determine a home’s value. It’s important to see a CMA to determine whether the home you’re looking at is priced reasonably for the market, and vice versa for your own home.

Do You Have Any Major Concerns About the Property?

Take advantage of the agents’ experience and expertise. They will often be able to see problems with a home or property that you may not have the eye to spot.

What Offer Would Guarantee This House OR What Offer Should We Be Willing to Take?

If you’re in a competitive market, an offer that is too low may be skipped over by the seller. If you’re in a market where negotiation is possible, you don’t want to make an offer that’s too high and risk overpaying. Experience should enable an agent to give you advice on exactly what to offer for a home and why.

If you’re selling your home, your real estate agent will be able to give you a better idea of what offers to expect and what you may need to consider taking in a competitive market.

What Happens if the Inspector Finds Something Wrong?

Life happens in a home! It’s best to be prepared for anything. Discuss with your agent about how they plan to handle unforeseen problems. Usually, terms can be worked out with the other party in the form of repairs or concessions to make up for any issues that were discovered during inspection.

What Happens if the House Appraises Under the Offer Price?

If an appraisal comes in low, you’re not out of options. Ask your agent for their recommended tactics if the appraisal comes in lower than anticipated.

What are Closing Costs? How Much Will They Be?

Closing costs are expenses involved in buying a house that don’t include the price of a property, like attorney fees, lender costs, title fees, etc. Understanding how much potential closing costs will be is crucial so you are prepared before a number you weren’t expecting comes into play.

Can You Explain the Home Buying OR Selling Process from Start to Finish?

This question is so important for any first-time homebuyers or sellers. The process can be long and complicated, so even if this isn’t your first time buying or selling your home don’t be afraid to ask this one! Ask your agent to explain the process to you from beginning to end, and take notes if needed, being sure to ask for any clarifications you need along the way.

Some specific topics to discuss here may be: how do showings go, how do offers work, what happens during a home inspection, what happens after an offer is accepted, what happens during the closing process, what is the estimated timeline from start to finish, etc.

Whether this is your first time buying a home, ninth time selling a property, or anywhere any between, our local real estate agents are here to help you along the way. We have experienced real estate professionals throughout 30a, Panama City, and Panama City Beach. Contact any of our Coldwell Banker Carroll Realty offices to get started today.