Ask Your Real Estate Agent These Questions About Your Marketing Plan

One of the benefits of enlisting the help of a real estate agent when you wish to sell your home is that he or she will develop a marketing plan to present to you. This plan will lay out the steps that the agent will take to create a buzz that will help to sell your home quickly and for as much of your asking price as possible. It's in your best interest to take an active role in the creation of this plan. You can do so by asking a lot of questions about the plan's contents before it's drafted up; this will show the agent that you're interested in the process and serious about selling. Here are some questions to ask about the marketing plan.

How Often Will There Be Have Open Houses?

Open houses are an integral part of selling your home, as they give many prospective buyers the chance to tour the residence in a short window of time. Asking this question should initiate a discussion about open houses. There's no universally "right" answer to this question, but you should hear a plan to have open houses regularly. Ideally, there will be a combination of evening and weekend open houses. This will allow people who have different schedules to find an open house available to them.

How Vigilant Will You Be About Advertising?

You should expect that any reputable real estate agent will use a host of advertising methods, but it's useful to ask about the agent's approach to getting the word out about your home. In addition to traditional and online advertising, you want to hear about a plan to spread the word to fellow agents who represent buyers. For example, the agent can outline a plan that includes him or her sharing the particulars of your home with a wide network of other real estate professionals.

At What Point Would You Change The Advertising Approach?

You might not want to think about the possibility of your house generating little interest, but this is always a risk. Your agent should be able to give you an estimate as to how long the house will take to sell; this data can be gleaned from neighborhood trends. If you eventually reach this tentative date and the house still hasn't sold, you want to know how the agent will change the marketing approach. For example, he or she might advocate paying to have the home professionally staged and new interior photos taken.