Questions to Ask a Realtor® When Selling a House in the Tri-Cities

Choosing a real estate agent to help sell your Tri-Cities home is a big decision. I get it! That’s why I recommend you interview at least 2-3 agents.

“Wait a second…a Tri-Cities real estate agent is suggesting I interview other agents, too??”

Yes! It’ll help you discover things like

• if the agent’s personality is a good match with yours
• what services the agent offers to homeowners
• how the agent markets listings like yours
• if the agent has a good understanding of our local real estate market
• much, much more!

But you might be wondering what to ask a real estate agent during a conversation like that. Let me suggest this list of 12 questions that will help you choose the right agent to list your Tri-Cities home for sale.

What to Ask a Realtor® When Selling a House

1. Are you a full-time, or part-time agent?

An active, full-time agent is more likely to be up to date on current market conditions and the strategies to help you get the most value for your home and get it sold on your timeline. When selling your home, look for an agent who’ll be available to answer not only your questions, but also questions from the agents who represent interested buyers.

A part-time agent might be too busy with their other job to take calls from other agents, and those buyers might move on to another home because they couldn’t reach your agent.

My answer to this question: I’m a full-time agent. Real estate is my career.

2. Do you have a team to provide support during the transaction?

Not only do you want a full-time Realtor®, but you’ll also find that an agent with a team behind her/him can provide significantly better service throughout the sales process. From handling paperwork to scheduling showings and making sure all milestones are met through the home-selling process, a team adds efficiency that a “one-man/one-woman band” agent will struggle to match.

My answer to this question: Yes, I have a team of support staff working together to delight our clients and deliver results.

3. Do you represent sellers and buyers during the same transaction?

It’s illegal in several states for a real estate agent to represent both the seller and buyer in a single transaction. It’s not illegal in Washington, so many Tri-Cities real estate agents will gladly represent both sides.

This can be problematic because buyers and sellers have conflicting interests. The seller wants to sell their house for the most money possible. The buyer wants to buy it for the least money possible. I believe you should look for an agent who’ll represent you and you alone in the sale of your home.

My answer to this question: I do not represent both sides in a single transaction. When you hire me to help sell your house, I’ll represent you and your interests — and no one else’s. I did a short video on this topic:

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4. How much of your business is generated by referrals and past clients?

An agent whose business is primarily driven by referrals and past clients is an agent who excels in customer service. Industry stats say that the typical Realtor® earned about 41% of their business from past clients and referrals in 2023.

My answer to this question: We love our clients and appreciate their referrals and repeat business. Since 2017, 77% of our business has come from referrals and clients who trusted us again with their real estate needs.

5. What ratings do your past clients give you when the transaction is over?

Asking this question will also help you understand if the agent’s past clients were at least satisfied, if not thrilled, with the agent’s performance. You might be careful about hiring an agent who has few ratings/reviews, or has less than stellar ratings/reviews.

My answer to this question: We work hard to delight our clients with the kind of service that has earned hundreds of positive ratings and reviews! You can see them (all unedited!) right here on our website, and Google “Cari McGee Realtor®” to see even more reviews on Google.

6. How long are your listings typically on the market before they sell?

If you have a specific timeline to sell your house, make sure you hire an agent who understands how to get your home sold in the time you need it sold. The agent should be able to adjust their pricing recommendations and marketing strategies to try to meet your timeframe.

My answer to this question: I have a history of selling homes faster than other local Realtors®. When we meet for our listing interview, I’ll provide our most up-to-date sales data.

7. What is your list-price-to-sales-price ratio?

This tells you how closely the final sales price of homes the agent has sold aligns with the original listing price. An agent with a ratio that’s close to 1:1 is an agent who understands the current Tri-Cities housing market and knows how to price a home to attract interested buyers. On the other hand, an agent whose listings typically sell for 70-80% of the list price is probably not helping their clients price their listings correctly.

My answer to this question: I have a history of pricing homes smartly to get the maximum value possible for my clients. As I said above, I’ll provide our most current sales data when we meet for our listing interview.

8. Can you give me a summary of how you’ll market my house to prospective buyers?

After the list price of your home, your agent’s marketing plan is probably the biggest factor that will impact how quickly you sell your home and how much it sells for. Many agents put a “For Sale” sign in the front yard, post a few photos on Facebook, and cross their fingers for a sale. In most cases, that’s not enough. And I certainly think your home deserves better!

The agent you hire should have a plan to make sure your home is seen by as many potential buyers as possible. They should be able to show you specific examples of how they’ve marketed their past listings — especially homes that are like yours.

My answer to this question: I offer an extensive marketing plan for every property, created and executed by our team’s Marketing Director (my husband!), who has 25+ years experience with online marketing and has consulted for companies including Target and The Weather Channel. When we meet for our listing appointment, I’ll walk you through our marketing plan and show you exactly how we’re different from other Tri-Cities Realtors®.

9. How easy are you to reach when I have questions?

As I said above in the question about full-time agents vs. part-time agents, it’s important that you can reach your listing agent when questions come up. No agent will be available 24 hours a day and seven days a week, but you and your agent should set expectations for how and when you’ll communicate during the transaction.

My answer to this question: I take great pride in being accessible to my clients whenever needed! We have staff available on weekdays during business hours, and I’m just a call, text, or email away before/after business hours. I also do weekly check-ins with my sellers so they know how much attention their home is getting and what potential buyers are saying. In our client questionnaire, I’ll ask you to let me know your preferred method of communication so we can work together as efficiently as possible.

10. What sets you apart from other agents and teams in the Tri-Cities?

Not all real estate agents are created equal. This question will help you find an agent who has knowledge and experience in your neighborhood and with your type of home. It’ll help you understand each agent’s specific skills, especially when it comes to selling a home. You likely have specific goals for the sale of your home — whether it be related to timing or value — and this question will help you determine which agent is most likely to help you reach those goals.

My answer to this question: There’s a lot that separates the Cari McGee Real Estate Team from other agents in the Tri-Cities. For starters, experience. We’ve sold close to 600 homes in nearly every neighborhood across the area. (See our map of sold homes here.) Our marketing system also sets us apart — it begins with professional photography and, in most cases, professional staging at our expense. Then there’s our track record of success, our history of delighting clients, and so much more. Our clients and the community have twice voted us one of the best real estate teams in the Tri-Cities Best poll!

11. What’s your commission fee?

This one might be an obvious question to ask, but I’m including it to give you the confidence to talk about costs when interviewing agents. In the Tri-Cities, nearly all agents work on commission, though you might find some who charge a flat fee. Be sure to ask how (commission, flat-fee, or other) and how much they’ll charge you for their services. You have every right to have a clear understanding of your agent’s fees.

My answer to this question: I work on a commission basis, meaning you don’t pay me until your home is sold. I charge a percentage of the home’s final sales price, which is based on several factors we’ll discuss during our listing appointment. I’ll outline the exact fees involved. I will also counsel you on if and how much compensation you should offer to the agent who brings your buyer.

12. Do you offer an “easy exit” so that I can end our agreement if I’m not satisfied?

When you hire an agent to list your home for sale, you’ll sign a contract that says, among other things,

• which agent and brokerage are representing you
• for how long they have the right to try selling your home

This contract typically expires after 180 days. Before hiring your agent, ask them what happens if you’re not satisfied during the contract term. Will they hold you to the full terms of the contract or let you out early?

My answer to this question: If you’re unhappy with our services, we’ll release you from the listing contract without penalty.

Any Other Questions for Me?

You now have a dozen great questions to ask me and other real estate agents when you’re choosing one to help you sell your home. I also shared quick versions of my answers to each question.

If there’s something I missed above that you don’t understand about selling your home and hiring an agent to help, reach out anytime. Use the TEXT US tool below — that sends a message direct to my phone, and I’ll text back as soon as I can. You can also call (509) 392-4705 or send an email via this form.

When it’s time to sell your home, I’d love to chance to interview with you!