15 Questions Every Buyer & Seller Should Ask Their Realtor

1. How many years have you been in the real estate business?
Vanessa: I began in this business in January 2003. Statistics show that within 3 years, 87% of new Realtors will no longer be in the business. Realizing this, my husband (also a Realtor) and I designed this website to provide as much useful information to home buyers and home sellers as we could. Further, we developed an aggressive and imaginative marketing campaign for the sale of your home.

2. Is your company a member of the MLS system?
Vanessa: MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service, where member companies catalogue their listed properties for sale so that all real estate agents have immediate access to the information. These means that all the member real estate companies and all the member real estate agents will know that your home is on the market. My company is a member of the MLSNI (MLS of Northern Illinois) which is the largest MLS in the United States.

3. Are you a member of the National Association of Realtors?
Vanessa: Yes, the National Association of Realtors requires high standards of ethics for membership, thus ensuring you are treated fairly.

4. Are you a member of the Local Board of Realtors?
Vanessa: Yes. We are members of the Chicago Association of Realtors and Associate Members of the Oak Park Board of Realtors. These professional Realtor associations clearly outline standards of ethics and provide on-going educational classes. This creates local accountability, creditability and influence.

5. Do you have an assistant?
Vanessa: Yes; my husband, Darrell, also a Realtor and I work this business together.

6. Are you linked to the real estate market through a computer?
Vanessa: Yes. In the real estate market these days, 74%1 of new buyers engage the internet as a starting point for their home search. Realizing this, we position our website a the top of all major search engines when buyers or sellers search for real estate, homes or homes for sale in a given community.

1 - According to the National Association of Realtors 2004 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.

7. Do you have any professional designations?
Vanessa: Yes. Professional designations chart achievements and commitment in doing for others what you would want your agent to do for you. I am the only Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) in the Oak Park Board of Realtors. This exclusive list only includes 1,500 member around the world and provides me contacts to market your home internationally.

8. Can I get out of the listing if I am not pleased with your service?
Vanessa: Yes. It is good to be loyal to an agent who has devoted time and marketing expenditures into the sale of your home. However, you need to be free to back out if you feel your home is not being marketed properly.


9. Will you have a marketing plan for our home and will it be custom tailored for our specific needs?
Vanessa: Yes. It is a good idea to ask for a marketing plan in writing. You want to make sure that your home is getting maximum exposure. We have developed a comprehensive marketing plan that in addition to the ordinary services most Realtors offer, we aggressively promote our website where 74% of home buyers and home sellers begin the search for a new home.

10. Will you help me stage my home for sale?
Vanessa: Yes, our marketing plan includes tips for preparing your home for sale and tips for showing your home to prospective buyers

11. Will you give us your opinion of what the market value of our home is?
Vanessa: Yes. A comparative market analysis (or a CMA) is based on recent sales of similar homes in your area. A Realtor should not just give you their opinion offhand, but should be able to document and support their price recommendation.

12. Do you follow up on all showings and report results back to us?
Vanessa: Yes. An agent should always follow up on every showing to receive feedback from the agent who showed the home. This will make sure that any deficiencies in your home are quickly identified and allow us to make appropriate changes.

13. Do you request all potential buyers to be pre-qualified?
Vanessa: Yes. An agent should always require that any offers submitted be from someone who is pre-qualified or preferably pre-approved. This can save you the potential risk of thinking your home is sold and weeks later discover that the prospective buyer was denied a mortgage.

14. Will you return my calls in a timely manner?
Vanessa: Yes. Lack of communication is one of the biggest complaints in the real estate business. I am a full-time Realtor and committed to this business.

15. Will you be present during all contract negotiations for the sale of our home?
Vanessa: Yes. Because you have enlisted the services of a full-time real estate advisor, I will always be present during contract negotiations. This will save you time and worry should a problem arise.