You’ve Found a Realtor—but Are You Making the Right Choice?

By Burt Tsuei

A Realtor with 20+ Years of proven track record of high quality service in the San Mateo County/Bay Area. A lifelong Bay Area resident, Burt works with buyers and sellers from Pacifica to South San Francisco to Redwood City and beyond. Burt is passionate about selling real estate in the mid-peninsula, and inspired by his clients’ goals and dreams. No matter what your unique needs are, whether you’re transitioning from city living or stepping up to a larger home, his mission comes straight from the heart: to protect your best interests and make your experience seamless.

Selling your home is not only a big decision, it’s also a long and heavy process requiring market expertise, research, constant negotiation, legalities, and more. If you’ve decided to hire a real estate professional, you made the right choice. Having the right Realtor by your side is the key to a smooth and successful sale. But if you’ve met or found someone you’re planning on hiring, I have to warn you: the search doesn’t end there. How do you know you’ve found the right agent? Before inking that listing agreement, here are seven questions you should ask:

1. How long have you been a Realtor? This is the first and most important question that you should ask the agents that you’re considering partnering with because in real estate, the years of experience that an agent has shown how well they know the market and how good they are at what they do.

2. Are you a full-time Realtor? Not all Realtors and agents are the same, and some of them work full-time jobs and dabble at real estate in their free time. You might want to avoid those because a full-time real estate professional will be able to provide you with better service. They are also readily available for showings and negotiations and will be able to devote more time to your needs.

3. Can you walk me through your selling process and marketing strategy? This will be an opportunity for you to understand their approach in the market. This is crucial in ensuring that your listing gets the right kind and amount of exposure to attract more buyers.

4. Can you explain your commission structure and other fees involved? Transparency is crucial in maintaining a smooth working relationship between you and your Realtor. Knowing how much you’ll be paying in commission and any additional fees that you have to pay later on will help you compare offers from other agents, and choose one that fits your budget.

5. How good are you at negotiating to get the maximum sales for your client? When choosing your Realtor, it is also important to hire someone who is an expert in negotiation. Remember that a skilled negotiator will be able to secure a higher selling price for your property.

6. Can you give me references from your past clients? By asking for references, you will have the opportunity to ask other people for their experience in working with the professional you’re considering hiring.

7. How often will you communicate with me? Selling a home is not an easy process as it involves a lot of planning, legalities, documents, home inspection and repairs, and more, which is why regular and effective communication will make the selling process smoother while keeping you informed and involved throughout the whole process.

You can only sell your home once, so make sure you do it with the right Realtor. Don’t hesitate to ask these questions to make sure that you get to choose the person who will be able to serve you best when you sell your home. In the meantime, send me a message or give me a call anytime. I look forward to giving you the best home-selling experience.