Selling your home soon? Given the large number of homes that fail to sell each year it’s crucial that you choose a REALTOR^®carefully. Here are some questions that you may find helpful in order to make the right choice:

1.  What would your existing clients have to say about you and your team?

We suggest you do your due diligence and not take any REALTOR^®at face value. Demand to see references and testimonials. We have our record on-line. You can read about us at these online locations:

Vital Home Realty Client Testimonials & Case Study Blog

Vital Home Realty Google^® Reviews

Vital Home Realty Facebook^® Reviews

2.   Are your commissions fair?

Technology has changed the playing field. These days the best REALTORS^® can deliver a great result for less expense and more quickly than in years gone by, (click on this link to learn why commissions must come down). If you feel that those cost savings should be passed onto you, consider finding a service provider that can give you value and a more competitive fee structure. Learn more about our FLAT FEE Home Selling Program here.

3.  How long have you been selling homes?

Some Edmonton area REALTORS^® have been around for decades and rely on their reputation to win clients. Unfortunately, many of these folks have fallen behind and do not understand how to find the best quality buyers using modern media. On the other hand, many REALTORS^® have only a few months experience. We suggest you look for someone with at least 10 years’ experience in marketing and selling homes. 

4.  How many homes do you or your team sell each year?

Many consumers believe that all REALTORS^® sell hundreds of homes each year. The reality? Average individual production in Edmonton, (including selling and buying sides) is LESS than 10 transactions per annum. We suggest you find a home selling specialist. Someone who sells more than 30 or 40 homes a year, they are effective and well-practiced. Of course, as a team we sell far more homes than any one individual REALTOR^® ever could.

 5.  What percentage of the homes you or your team list, sell each year?

At the current time less than 50% of homes listed on the MLS^® System are selling in term. The market is very competitive and there is plenty of inventory. If you choose a program like Purplebricks, or perhaps a discount REALTOR^® your chances of success may decrease to less than 40%. The attention to detail and expertise is simply not there. We suggest you look harder. At Vital Home Realty, we exceed 80% success rates. It’s never been more important to pick a service provider that knows how to sell homes, not just list them.

6.  How do you suggest we ‘position’ my home in the market?

Most REALTORS^® are NOT schooled in marketing and too many simply focus on getting you to list your home at the lowest price. At Vital Home Realty, we have identified 8 Key Components to Selling a Home (click here for details). The asking price is only one component.

 7.  How many ‘phases’ does your marketing process involve?

Confirm that your REALTOR^® has a plan beyond listing on the MLS^® System and installing a sign. The Vital Home Realty FLAT FEE Best Value program is unique and has 5 distinct phases. 

8.  Where do you advertise? 

In addition to an MLS^® System listing, most buyers are found through social media and Facebook^® in particular. You can see our Facebook^® business page here. Facebook^® is excellent because it’s possible to target and advertise to very specific demographics. For example, if you had a wonderful family home close to an elementary school and an off-leash area, it’s possible to pay Facebook^® (via a business page) to target young families with children who have a dog and are looking to move home.

In addition to social media channels like Facebook^® and Instagram^®, your home should be advertised on your REALTORS^® own website, REALTOR.ca, and Kijiji^®. It’s also crucial that you are in the Data Distribution Facility (DDF^®) syndication via the Canadian Real Estate Association. Vital Home Realty has arranged to share its listings with ALL of the major franchises and independent brokerages. Your home will be advertised on websites offered by: REMAX, Royal Le Page, Century 21 and all other significant websites. We hope to be able to offer enhanced exposure via Zillow soon.

You might be wondering about newspaper advertising and perhaps an Open House. Based on research, neither of these tools work (click here for details). We may offer you an Open House as a courtesy. However, please don’t expect it to sell your house..

9. How do you work with and manage actual buyers?

Look for a REALTOR^® that uses a sophisticated ‘buyer friendly’ website to capture potential buyer information on a 24/7 basis. Most REALTORS^® do NOT have this technology. Our website www.AmbergateHomes.ca captures buyer information in exchange for search tools and we have hundreds of buyers searching every week. We can track their interests. If a buyer shows special interest in your home, one of our buyer agent specialists will call them to set up a showing.

10. How many professionals work on your team?

Most consumers are looking for a high level of service. Most REALTORS^® do not own their brokerage and are lone rangers working for a large ‘clearing house’ real estate brokerage. What this means is that they pay a fee to a brokerage and trade under that umbrella. This means that the REALTOR^® must be on call and handle every aspect of the project from writing the copy, handling the advertising, taking calls, to negotiating the sale and so on.

What’s the problem?

First, no one individual is good at all these things and if your REALTOR^® goes on vacation, is sick or otherwise engaged, your support system evaporates. If you hire a team of professionals, you always have support and the best people on the team handle the most appropriate parts of your home selling program. 

11. Do you provide a performance guarantee? 

Most REALTORS^® cannot offer you any form of guarantee. At Vital Home Realty, we offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Ask us for details if it’s important to you.

About the author:

You can read more about the author of this blog by clicking this link – Stuart Neal Broker Owner & REALTOR^®

Want more information about our lower cost FLAT FEE home selling programs? Please feel free to call our broker owner Stuart Neal at: 780-760-2014 or visit our home sellers page www.FlatFeeRealtyAdvisors.ca

This blog was first published in March 2016. It was updated March 2018 and June 2019