You’re selling your home! This can be both exciting and terrifying. In fact, it’s one of the most stressful times of our lives. You have however managed to narrow it down to a handful of potential Realtor Vancouver professionals that you want to work with. So how do you go through the next steps and what questions should you cover?

The great news about selling a home in Vancouver is that you won’t face the dual agency problems. Some countries allow agents to represent both the buyer and the seller. I’m sure you can see how that could create a conflict of interest. For those lucky enough to be dealing with Realtor Vancouver professionals, then you won’t have to worry about this. The key themes when reviewing Realtor Vancouver professionals are therefore the following:

• Experience and Track Record
• Comparable Market Analysis
• Recommended Strategy
• Process Methodology and Communication
• Commission Rates

Experience and Track Record

A good place to start is to ask your Realtor Vancouver professional how much experience they have in your area. Will they be operating in their comfort zone or will this take them away from their usual focus? You should also ask them for any testimonials or references you can take from previous clients. Just listening to the response to that request also gives you a lot of clues. If someone is slightly reluctant to give you details of past clients then you know there’s something you need to watch out for.

Comparable Market Analysis

Meeting your potential Realtor Vancouver professional at home is a good idea. This gives them the opportunity to do some research and bring some initial recommendations with them. Ideally, they’ll run a report showing you the selling prices of other properties similar to yours in terms of size, number of rooms and location. The list will show both those properties currently on sale as well as those recently sold. With this report, you should also get an idea of how long it’s taking for these types of properties to close a sale. You can even do your own research before you meet your potential Realtor Vancouver professional. Websites such as realtor.com and zillow.com can give you a good starting point.

Recommended Strategy

The greatest advantage of working with a Realtor Vancouver professional is that they can guide you through their recommended price and marketing approach. Of course they’ll use their listing system, but who else do they know? Do they use social media, blogs or other platforms? Is it better to promote anywhere and everywhere or follow more of a ‘word of mouth’ approach? The type of area you’re in will dictate the strategy and your Realtor Vancouver professional should be able to advise you based on their knowledge and experience. It’s also important for you to know what level of service to expect. For example, do they offer staging, Open House days or other techniques?

Process Methodology and Communication

Ask as many questions as you can about how your potential Realtor Vancouver professional works with the rest of your colleagues in the office. When prospective buyers call, who picks up the phone and will they market your property or will the call get passed on? Also, do you want to have viewings any day of the week or do you have a set schedule? How do they propose your house should be prepared? Are there any lighting issues or changes in the furniture layout that they suggest?

Go through as many details as you can and listen to their advice. You’ll get a very quick sense of how professional they are and just how well they know their stuff. Finally, don’t forget to ask them how they normally update clients. Do you expect daily or weekly calls or emails? Perhaps you also have a preference so make sure you state that clearly.

Commission Rates

This might be obvious but it’s important to know how much you’ll be paying your potential Realtor Vancouver professional. Are they following the industry average or are they higher or less? Perhaps they’re pitching themselves higher because they deliver a more personalized service? Either way, find out the logic behind their rates as this will also tell you a lot about their approach and expectations of the process.

Final Thoughts on Interviewing a Realtor Vancouver Professional when Selling a Home

Make sure you have at least 3 Realtor Vancouver professionals to interview so that you can compare answers. This will reassure you that your final choice is the right one. The above themes give you a good foundation from which to ask your questions. Don’t forget though that, at the end of the day, you want to feel comfortable working with this person. Do you feel you can build a good working relationship with them? Is this person going to become more of a guide and partner or will they be following this process like a transaction? Your gut instinct also matters. Don’t overthink it too much though and simply follow the questions and themes recommended above to help you find the best Realtor Vancouver professional for you.