The Questions you MUST ask any Canmore Realtor before they Sell your Home!

dan mcguire canmore realtor home sales questions

The Questions you MUST ask any Canmore Realtor before they Sell your Home!

Trying to pick a Canmore Realtor to help sell your home, but not sure what questions you should be asking?

When choosing an agent to work with, its so important to know just what type of service you can expect. The Canmore home sales process can often be easy, timely, fun & rewarding (at least, in my opinion it should be!). But with the wrong agent in your corner, it could be a stressful and drawn out process.

My focus when helping sellers is always to help them achieve their goals; whether thats a quick sale, a high price, or just the easiest process. In fact – I always strive to provide all three of those things!

Hiring a Canmore real estate agent is like a job interview. Today, let’s go over what kind of questions you should be asking as a seller. If you’re unsure about the sales process, what it should cost you, or how it works – feel free to call, text or email me anytime. I’m always available and no question is too small!

  • Is the Agent part of a Team, or will you work with them directly?
  • What will they do to market your home?
  • What will they do to protect your best interests & property?
  • How will they communicate with you?
  • Will they represent both parties in some instances? How does that work for you?
  • Why should you choose them over someone else?

a cabin in canmore home sales realtor questions

Is the Agent part of a Team, or will you work with them directly?

This is an important one! Sometimes, real estate agents form teams to achieve economies of scale and the ability to take on more work than one agent can handle. It could be two agents who have partnered up, or multiple agents and administrative assistants working together.

Pros of working with a Team: In theory, more people available to help you during the process by working with a larger organization.

Cons of working with a Team: Some Sellers may feel “handed off”. The team leader may be the one who presented to you and had you sign the contract; but when the action starts with your listing, or you have questions to be answered, they’ve gone off trying to drum up more business. This often leaves you in the hands of a subordinate or assistant.

If you prefer a personalized experience and direct communication, working with a single agent may be the best option for you. Some teams may allow you to work with just one individual, too.

What will they do to market your home? – Canmore Home Sales

OK – this is the biggest one (in my opinion). Head to realtor.ca right now and comb through a few listings… take note: not all are created equally!

Some listings will catch your eye immediately. Sure, they might be beautiful homes – but they also have attractive photography, video tours, and catchy copy that draws buyers in! A well-constructed listing is just one part of the overall marketing process; never settle for iPhone photography and a few cheesy lines that don’t demonstrate the value of your property.

The marketing process should go far beyond the MLS and local print! My marketing process includes my thousands of social media followers across various platforms, the National & International reach of Engel & Volkers, powerful websites, high end photo & video, plus loads of other ways to get your listing in front of the right Buyers.

What will they do to protect your best interests & property?

When I represent a Seller, my priorities are a) getting you the highest price possible in the shortest amount of time, and b) protecting your best interests and personal property at all times. In fact – I have a fiduciary obligation to act only in your best interests (and never for anyone else’s).

Depending on a Seller’s personal needs and desires, I will attend all showings (even by other agents) to personally be on hand to demonstrate the features of the property. Absolutely never will a buyer be allowed to enter the premises of your property unless they are accompanied by a licensed and registered REALTOR, and/or myself. During inspections, walkthroughs, and right up to the closing date where keys change hands, I will work tirelessly to make sure your personal item and property are protected.

Canmore Realtor Questions: How will they communicate with you?

Because of my background in the luxury sector, as well as in corporate sales, I hold myself to a very high standard when it comes to client communication. At no point will your calls go unanswered, or will your questions hang in the air without a response. When you entrust the sale of your property to me, you will never receive a one-word text message response. My focus is on acknowledging your questions, comments and concerns, and acting on them to ensure you are getting exactly what you want out of the process of selling your Canmore home. When you share information with me, it helps me sell your property more effectively. When I share information with you, it makes things clear and keeps us on the right track to achieve your goals.

Will they represent both parties in some instances? How does that work for you?

Dual-representation can be a tricky subject; on a personal level, I’m not sure if it’s something I’m comfortable with. In a dual-rep situation, the agent who is acting exclusively for the Seller, can become “neutral” to facilitate a transaction between the Seller and an unrepresented Buyer. Sometimes this can realize some savings for both parties, though most often it results in extra commission for the agent involved… Some agents will bed over backwards and do anything they can to represent both parties.

While this can work for everyone in some instances (including Sellers), often Buyers are best advised to have their own representation to get what they want out of the deal. As an agent with an established relationship with the Seller of a property, I find it difficult to think one could become completely “neutral” in the transaction and forego the best interests of the person who hired them in the first place. That’s why I always defer to the person who hired me first (the Seller) to ask what they would like to do. I will only ever do as they direct me to do (which is my lawful duty) – and what they feel most comfortable with.

Why should you choose them to be your Canmore agent over someone else?

My advice to Sellers is to always ask this question. Why? Because you aren’t coming hat-in-hand to an agent to sell your home; you are making a choice. It’s like you’re hiring for a job! Ask this professional before you why they think they would be the best person for the job. They should be able to clearly tell you what they will do to sell your home, how they intend to manage your relationship, and what sets them apart from the crowd.

Take the measure of the person before you; do you feel like you can trust them, and do you believe their message to you? My goal is to always make my clients feel comfortable and provide them with all of the information they need to make informed decisions up front. I want you to know exactly who you’re working with when you choose me.

Canmore Realtor Questions – Canmore Home Sales

If you have questions about the home sales process, what to expect from an agent, or what selling your home might look like – don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Even if you’re not ready to make the move just yet, I’m always happy to provide preliminary information and to let you know what your house might fetch on the open market. Feel free to call, text, or email me any time; no question is too small!

Cheers.

Like this article? Check out these similar posts:

Canmore Real Estate Market Dynamics – What you NEED to know

Canmore Home Sales – My Marketing Process

Residential Real Estate

Feel free to call, text, or email Dan today for no-pressure advice,
tips and insights into the Canmore, Cochrane & Banff real estate market.

LET’S CONNECT