7 Key Questions to Ask Your Realtor

Prior to working with a Realtor, it’s always best to ask a few questions before committing to them. Since buying and selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions that you will make, it’s important to choose the right Winthrop Realtor for you.

Here are the top questions to ask them:

How Long Have You Been a Realtor?
When looking for the right real estate agent to work with, professional experience is a must. An experienced Realtor can help you navigate the home buying process using the real estate knowledge and skills they gained over the years.
What Areas Do You Specialize In?
Local expertise is an important aspect that your Realtor needs to have as well. No one knows the local area better than a neighborhood expert. Agents who specialize in local communities will know the ins and outs of a particular area and have access to key information that you can’t get anywhere else.

If you want to know about prevailing home prices, schools, traffic patterns, and development plans of the neighborhood you’re eyeing, ask a local real estate agent.
What’s Your Schedule?
As a homebuyer or seller, you want to make sure that your Realtor is available when you need them. While working with a part-time Realtor is perfectly fine, it’s always best to work with someone who does the job fulltime. A full-time real estate agent can put their focus on you and respond to your needs faster.
How Many Buyers and Sellers are you Currently Representing?
While having several clients at a time suggests the popularity and reputation of an agent, you don’t want to have to compete for their attention. Make sure that your Realtor has the time to focus on your real estate needs.
How Will You Communicate With Me?
Communication is crucial in any real estate transaction. In order to close a real estate deal, you and your Realtor need to be on the same page every step of the way. That means making sure they understand your needs as a buyer or seller at the outset, and remain available afterwards to update you on the status of the transaction.

Therefore, you need to find answers to the following:
- How do they typically contact clients – over the phone, through email, or by meeting face-to-face?
- How often do they get in touch with clients?
- How long before they reply to messages?
Knowing your Realtor’s preferred communication style can help you determine whether or not it is compatible with your own.
What Separates You From the Competition?
Whether it’s services, skills, experience, or specialization, what a Realtor brings to the table can help you determine if you should work with them or not.
Can I check your references?
Before deciding to work with a Realtor, you might want to check in on their previous clients. Ask your Realtor for references. Solicit the feedback of past clientele to find out about their working relationship.

Looking to buy or sell a home in North Central Washington? Let Coldwell Banker Winthrop Realty help you reach your real estate goals. Give us a call today at 509.996.2121 or send an email to info(at)cbwinthrop(dotted)com.