When selling a home, especially if it’s your first time, having a solid and trusting relationship with a local and knowledgeable real estate agent can make all the difference.
Here are 20 questions I was recently asked in a listing presentation, these sellers were incredibly thorough and I loved it. Thought I'd share their questions and my answers so you can make an informed decision when it's your time to list your home.
...Ps: I successfully listed and sold their condo!
Are you a full time agent?
Yes - I am a full time realtor and have been for 10 years. I work on a small team of 4 (the Mink Group) so when you work with me you actually have access to the 4 of us. We are an award winning team with Coldwell Banker. Our office is located at Dundurn & Aberdeen in Hamilton.
How many homes have you listed and sold in the past year?
I have personally sold and listed 11 homes since the beginning of this year. It is not about quantity but quality. Working closely with buyers as well, I pride myself on only taking on what I can so I can ensure exceptional service. Our team has had over 90 transactions this year.
How do you arrive at your suggested asking price?
Market value is established through Market knowledge, past comparables and inventory levels. It also depends on your property features and finishes.
Do you agree you will not represent a buyer in this transaction?
I do not represent both parties, it is a huge conflict of interest in my opinion. My office has a policy to refer out any potential interested buyers to other realtors in our office.
What percentage of listings have you also represented a buyer?
None. I do not do multiple representations.
How do you plan on marketing/advertising to buyers?
Marketing/Advertising includes a variety of tactics, to list a few:
Realtor.ca (Hamilton Board to Toronto Board)
Coldwell Banker has affiliations with third party sites such as Zillow so as soon as your address is googled, the home would appear for sale. Professional photos / Iguide Tour/ Videos (YouTube) / Paid campaigns on Facebook / Instagram / e-blast to our pool of 600 realtors and direct communication to our active buyers / Feature Sheets / supplements etc.
When we meet we can further discuss the proper channels and marketing/advertising tactics for your home as it might vary. This is part of our signature marketing campaign as we will target your home to the right demographic.
How will you vet the buyer?
There are various ways to vet the buyers. Typically buyers have their own realtor who represents their best interest and would have vetted them. ie: a financial letter confirming mortgage pre-approval etc. I would request as much information as possible from the realtor.
What needs to be done to get the condo ready?
To prepare the space we will bring in cleaners and a staging company. This is included in our real estate fees.
Is staging necessary with an empty unit?
We do find staging helps sell homes especially if vacant for people to envision the space.
What are the costs (selling price minus closing price)?
Costs to sell include, real estate service fees, legal cost (approximately $1,400 depends on the lawyer) any adjustments made on closing. For condos and townhomes, you will also need to order the status certificate, the price ranges around $120-$140 to order.
What are the costs beyond commission?
Additional cost might include movers to take out any of the remaining furniture.
Cost of commission/fees for the sale in percentage of sale including tax
Our real estate fees are competitive. Happy to discuss the different packages we have available.
How many homes have you sold?
Over the last 10 years, I have sold 62 homes. (With 3 mat leaves in between)
Have you sold homes in the Hamilton area?
Burlington / Hamilton / Waterdown / Dundas / Stoney Creek / Grimsby are my main area of business. I have gone as far as St Catharines, Brantford, Dunnville, Brampton to Kawartha Lakes and Muskoka occasionally.
Can your agreement be cancelled?
Yes, any real estate agreement can be cancelled. My office Coldwell Banker has the ultimate service guarantee - if you are not happy with our services, you can cancel it at any time.
What is your sale to list price ratio?
List price to sell price ratio; 107.3% (2021)
What is your average days on market?
Avg DOM: 9 (2021)
Compared to the Board: 15 DOM (2021)
We sell faster than our competition.
What percentage of your listings have fallen through?
3% / In 10 years - 2 homes I had listed did not sell. (One was a divorce and couldn’t agree, the husband ended buying his wife out. The other one had 2 offers but the price offered wasn’t enough for the sellers and they decided to keep the home, they still live there)
How often will we communicate?
I will communicate as often as I receive feedback from buyers and on a weekly basis with a report on walkthroughs/ feedback/ stats. It is a strong sellers market at the moment - so the property should sell rather quickly so you might not get any reports.
Do you have any marketing materials I can review and references?
I had also included our marketing materials: Our listing presentation My resume with references Our pre-listing presentation Our latest Fall Magazine
You can also read my reviews: https://rankmyagent.com/audreybailey
If you have any questions when listing your home, I am always happy to help.
Audrey
xo
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