the big 4
questions

When choosing an agent, most owners focus on the four big questions:

What’s my property worth?

What’s your commission?

How much will advertising cost?

How will you sell my home?

Many agents try to avoid objections by giving quick, appealing answers — often just telling you what you want to hear. But once the campaign starts, the story can change.

When I meet with owners, I encourage them to look beyond just these answers and choose the agent they truly believe will put their property first and work hard for the best result. These questions don’t need to be locked in straight away — what matters most is choosing the right person to guide you through the process.

A scenic view of a city waterfront with a winding pedestrian bridge over the water, surrounded by modern buildings and hills in the background during sunset.

5 qUESTIONS TO ASK AN AGENT

When trying to decide between agents it can be hard to determine who is authentic and truly invested in your best interest, below are 5 questions you can ask to gain insight.

  • Is the answer something specific to you and your property like an information memorandum or is it generic like a promise to work the hardest or to get you the best price etc? 

  • Only jobs not viewed by the agent as important or worth their time are outsourced. Does their response align with any former interactions you have had with them? The reality is that if the team members who aren't the lead agent were good enough to be a stand-alone agent, they would be a stand-alone agent.... are you paying a top commission for half the jobs to be done by individuals who don't justify that premium

  • Without realising, some agents will highlight that the source of the fault had something to do with the owner and/or their property... example being I wasn’t prepared to sell the property for less than the owners wanted & they wanted more than the market was prepared to pay. Also, every agent has had a failed campaign; if they say they haven't or cannot remember then they aren’t pushing for a premium result or looking to improve their practice.

  • Was it directly or indirectly linked to the final outcome? A true agent will demonstrate their level of effort and care well before an offer is presented (they drove 2 hours to negotiate and sign a contract). Many agents will talk about being a project manager.... organising tradesmen to complete repairs etc. That is easy when the owner is the one paying the bills.

  • ItemAgents who select an expensive property, popular or record-breaking sales campaign, tend to link their efforts to the price of the home and associated exposure. What happens if you're the cheapest property they are selling? An agent's passion and effort for their job should not differ depending on the commission and exposure they receive. description