Keyes Home Realty Team - Keyes-miami.com

As a seller, you will need to know:

Specifically, how will you sell my home?
What is your direct mail campaign?
Where and how often do you advertise?
Will you show me a sample flyer?
How do you market online?
A "SAVVY Agent" will show you an extensive online marketing program. Listing Information

4) Will You Please Provide References?

Everybody has references. Even new agents have references from previous employers.

Ask to see references.
Ask if any of the individuals providing references are related to the agent.
Ask if you can call the references with additional questions.

5) What Are the Top Three Things That Separate You From Your Competition?

A good agent won't hesitate to answer this question and will be ready to fire off why he/she is best suited for the job. Everyone has their own standards, but most consumers say they are looking for agents who say they are:

Honest and trustworthy
Assertive
Excellent negotiators
Available by phone or e-mail
Good communicators
Friendly
Analytical
Able to maintain a good sense of humor under trying circumstances Listing Information

6) May I Review Documents Beforehand That I Will Be Asked to Sign?

A sign of a good real estate agent is a professional who makes forms available to you for preview before you are required to sign them. If at all possible, ask for these documents upfront.
The Keyes Company offers the most comprehensive listing agreement designed to protect the seller using it's 80 years of real estate experience.

As a buyer, ask for copies of the following:

Buyer's Broker Agreement (is it exclusive or non-exclusive?)
Agency Disclosures
Purchase Agreement
Buyer Disclosures

As a seller, ask to see:

Agency Disclosure
Listing Agreement
Seller Disclosures Listing Information

7) How Will You Help Me Find Other Professionals?

Let the real estate agent explain to you who he/she works with and why he/she chooses these professionals. Your agent should be able to supply you with a written list of referring vendors such as mortgage brokers, home inspectors and title companies. Ask for an explanation if you see the term "affiliated" because it could mean that the agent and her broker are receiving compensation from one or all of vendors, and you could be paying a premium for the service.
This is not always bad it provided a one stop shopping experience.

8) How Much Do You Charge?

Don't ask if the fee is negotiable. All real estate fees are negotiable. Typically, real estate agents charge a percentage, from 1% to 4% to represent one side of a transaction: a seller or a buyer.
A listing agent may charge, for example, 3.5% for herself and another 3.5% for the buyer's agent,
for a total of 7%.
You can offer a concession to reduce the commission, talk with your expert Listing agent about concessions.
Be careful and be prepared as some markets areas and communities require higher end commission for the home to be sold fast.
Listing Information

9) What Kind of Guarantee Do You Offer?

If you sign a listing or buying agreement with the agent and later find that you are unhappy with the arrangement, will the agent let you cancel the agreement? Will the agent stand behind her service to you? What is her company's policy about canceled agreements? Has anybody ever canceled an agreement with her before?
If your home has not sold due to a stale market, don't blame your Agent.
The agent should have proof of the marketing efforts he/she has done for your property.

10) What Haven't I Asked You That I Need to Know?

Pay close attention to how the real estate agent answers this question because there is always something you need to know, always. You want an agent to take her time with you -- to make sure you feel comfortable and secure with her knowledge and experience. He/She should know how to listen and how to counsel you, how to ask the right questions to find out what he/she needs to know to better serve you.

1) How Long Have You Been in the Business?

2) What is Your Average List-Price-to-Sales-Price Ratio?