Ask Your Agent These Questions When Selling Your Home

CENTURY 21 Mertz & Associates February 24, 2026

When selling your home, a real estate agent is a valuable resource to help you prepare your house, market your home to potential buyers, negotiate any offers you receive, and look for your next property. Our real estate agents suggest asking potential agents these questions to confirm that they're a good fit for your needs:

1. How Do You Determine My Home's Listing Price?

A potential agent will tell you how much they suggest listing your home for, but it's important to ask how the agent calculated their recommendation.

Market Data: The agent's explanation should indicate that they understand your local real estate market and include data from recent home sales.
The Risks of Overpricing: While it is encouraging to hear a high number, listing for too much can deter buyers, increase the time on market, and lower the final amount you receive.
Finding the Balance: Conversely, you don't want to price too low and leave money on the table. A knowledgeable agent who understands how to price Lewisburg homes for sale helps you get the most money possible while shortening your selling time.

2. Will the Real Estate Agent Provide Representation for Potential Homebuyers?

It's possible for a real estate agent to represent both the home seller and a potential buyer, but you want to avoid putting yourself in this situation.

Conflict of Interest: While it may seem convenient, this puts the agent in a situation where they can't negotiate solely on the seller's behalf.
Financial Impact: As the seller, this means you may potentially lose out on thousands of dollars.
The Goal: Your real estate agent's answer to this question should be "no." This shows you that the agent works with integrity and can provide the best representation possible.

3. How Will the Real Estate Agent Vet Potential Buyers?

To decrease the chances of an accepted offer falling through, your agent should vet potential homebuyers. This includes:

Mortgage Pre-approval: Requesting a pre-approval letter to confirm the buyer is qualified.
Financial Oversight: Obtaining info about their finances and contacting the buyer’s loan officer.
Debt-to-Income Ratio: If a buyer has a high debt-to-income ratio, they are more likely to have financing fall through. Knowing this ratio also helps your agent negotiate a higher price because they know what the buyer can actually afford.

4. What Can You Do to Get Your Home Ready to Sell?

You want to make sure you spend your time and money addressing details that will actually help you get more money for your home.

An experienced agent will know exactly what things need to be done to help you get as much money as possible. They can also help you decide which items can stay in your home when you list it and what items you need to store. Working with an experienced real estate agent helps you get more money for your property and decreases the stress associated with selling your home. Ready to start working with a qualified real estate agent? Contact us to get started!