1. Ask what type of schedule the agent has planned for open houses - If the agent is merely putting a sign up on your lawn and holding open houses every Sunday, it will do little to sell your home. Look for an agent who has a developed marketing strategy to attract the best potential buyers to your open house. The open house should be just one part of a complete marketing system.



2. Review with your agent the comparable sold prices in your neighborhood to establish your asking price - Pricing is one, if not the most critical, aspect of selling your home. Take great care in choosing an agent that understands proper pricing strategies. The selling price should attract potential buyers to your home, net you the most profit, and reflect the current market conditions and the overall condition of your home. Be realistic and avoid agents who will overprice just to get the listing. Some agents will suggest a high dollar amount just to get you to list, while others will under price a home just so it will sell quickly.

3. Ask what the listing agreement entails - when the listing starts and ends, and what the fees are that you will have to pay. Have your agent go over every detail in the listing agreement with you until you understand it completely. Be certain the beginning and expiration dates are on the agreement; a standard length of a listing can last three to six months depending on the market. Know exactly what fees you will pay and consider that cheaper is not always better. If the agent stands to make very little commission, you can be certain that he/she will not do the best to market your property effectively. Be careful of agents who offer to list for a lower commission; they will usually spend very little money or time marketing your home.

Fact: Many Mexico Real Estate Agents in the area will most likely not show and sell your house.

Fact: When many agents see that the commission has been reduced many will refuse to show your house.

Fact: What drives up the price buyers will pay for your house is for every potential buyer to see your house.

Fact: Houses listed by discount brokers generally stay on the market longer and sell at a lower price! Offering a full commission is part of selling your house for TOP DOLLAR.

4. Ask about which disclosure laws will apply to you - Your agent should help you with locating professional inspectors for the various mandatory home inspections required in your area. Create a home marketing file including a property fact sheet, a property transfer disclosure statement, pest control report, applicable study zone report, structural engineering report, property profile from the title company, plans for alterations or additions, and special equipment report for pools, spas, sprinklers and alarm systems. Your agent should handle all of these for you. Your agent should recommend getting all of this completed up front before your buyer steps into the picture. Not having these done in advance will only complicate the sale

5. Ask what things separate your agent from the competition - Does your agent have a written 30-DAY MARKETING PLAN? Your agent should have effective advertising including 24/7-hour advertisement capability. Agents who have innovative marketing strategies will always outperform agents who rely on outdated techniques. Merely putting an ad in the newspaper no longer gets the job done. There are numerous ways to make your home available to the buying public, and be sure the agent uses every one of them to attract the largest pool of buyers.

Author: Aniruddha Badola