find your listing agent

Before you can find a listing agent, you should first understand a listing agent’s role. A listing agent, also known as a seller’s agent, represents only the seller, not the buyer. The home’s selling price will dictate the listing agents’ commission. Therefore, they’re a great resource in helping you create the best strategy and listing price. With such a huge investment on the line, we’ve mapped out questions to ask when trying to find the right listing agent for you.

Where To Look For A Listing Agent

As with any major investment, it is smart to shop around and weigh your options. 75 percent of home sellers only contact one candidate before picking their listing agent, according to a NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® report. We recommend interviewing at least three agents before deciding who you want to work with.

To find prospective agents, start with your network. Ask friends, relatives, neighbors and colleagues for recommendations. Word-of-mouth endorsements can help make the search quicker.

The internet can also be a great tool. Our Find a REALTOR® directory lets you search for agents in your area. These databases can clue you into important details, such as years of experience, the number of homes sold and past client reviews.

Questions You Should Ask

  • Do you work as an agent full-time?

    As in most professions, work experience doesn’t guarantee skill. That said, much of real estate is learned on the job.

  • How long have you been in the business?

    Generally, the more experience an agent has, the more they’re tapped into the local market.

  • How many homes have you sold in my neighborhood in the past year?

    You don’t need to find an agent who specializes only in your community, though that would be ideal. You do want someone who knows the local and hyper-local inventory and gets your neighborhood.

  • What’s the typical price range of homes you sell?

    Most agents work across multiple price points, but you don’t want an agent who has never sold a home in your range.

  • What’s your fee?

    An agent should be able to articulate their value and explain their commission rate.

  • How will you market my home?

    You don’t want to hire someone who’s just going to stick a For Sale sign in your yard and call it a day. The agent should present a comprehensive marketing plan for your listing. This should include strategies for staging your home, taking professional photographs of your home, promoting the listing on social media, marketing to other brokers, and scheduling open houses.

  • Will I be working with you directly, or with a team?

    Some agents lead or work as part of a sales team. The lead listing agent shares client responsibilities with other agents. Where one agent may handle private showings for a listing, another may host open houses. A benefit is that for the same fee, you get many people working for you. But if you want the sole attention of the listing agent, you may want to stick to a one-on-one arrangement.

  • Will you provide one-on-one service?

    Whether you’re working with one agent or a team, ask how responsive they can be to you, your timeline, and your goals.

  • How long on average are your listings on market? Your average sold-to-list price?

    This can help you assess whether the agent is a solid marketer and negotiator. These are real estate stats that the agent can pull from your local multiple listing service or MLS.

All in all, it’s in your best interest to pick an agent who understands your goals, fits your personality and can get your home sold for top dollar. When you meet someone who can offer all of the above, congratulations — you’ve found your listing agent!