Questions to Ask When You Interview a Real Estate Agent

1) Do you recommend we stage our home?

Yes. Staging consistently helps homes sell faster and can raise the price buyers are willing to pay. Industry surveys report:

Value ↑ Nearly 3 in 10 agents reported staged listings achieved 1%–10% higher offers.

Speed ↑ Roughly 30%–49% of listing agents observed reduced days on market when homes were staged.

Source: recent national home-staging surveys of real estate professionals. See citations below.

Pro tip: Most agents won’t stage because professional staging can cost thousands (and for larger homes, tens of thousands). We offer staging for select properties as part of our marketing strategy when you list with us.

2) What’s your full marketing plan beyond the MLS?

Ask for a step-by-step launch plan: preparation, staging, cinematic photo + video, copywriting, floor plans, digital targeting, print, agent network outreach, and a timeline for each milestone.

3) How will you position our home to create urgency and strong terms?

Listen for strategy around pricing bands, first-week momentum, showing cadence, offer deadlines, and backup-offer systems.

4) Who’s actually showing the home and handling feedback?

Your agent should personally manage showings, collect buyer/agent feedback, and adjust strategy weekly based on real signals—not vibes.

5) What prep is worth it—and what should we skip?

Expect a prioritized checklist that focuses on first-impression wins (lighting, paint, minor repairs, editing furniture) and avoids low-ROI projects.

6) What’s your track record in our micro-market?

Ask for relevant sold comps, average days-on-market, sale-to-list ratios, and case studies that look like your home—not just broad stats.

Hire the Right Listing Agent: The Questions That Net You More

Questions to Ask When You Interview a Real Estate Agent

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