As you get ready to list your home on the real estate market, you will need to choose a realtor to help you sell it. Choosing the right realtor is important, as this will be the person you work closely with during this time, and here are three questions to ask before hiring one:

What Is Your Commission Rate?

When you hire an agent to help you sell your home, the agent only gets paid if you sell your house and when the house closes. The money the agent earns is called a commission, and it is set in terms of a percentage of the selling price of the home. The average commission rate is 5% to 6%. Therefore, if you sell your house for $200,000, you will pay between $10,000 to $12,000 to the agent for the commission.

The commission rate is negotiable, but you will have to pay whatever you agree upon when your agent writes up the contract to sell your house.

What Communication Styles and Methods Do You Use?

Another good question to ask is about the communication styles and methods the agent uses. Do you prefer talking on the phone, or would you rather communicate by text? Do you want to know every detail about the sale of your house, or would you prefer only knowing the important details? This is something you should discuss with the agent before hiring him or her so that you know what to expect.

What Is the Average Time It Takes You to Sell a House?

You might also want to ask the agent questions about the length of time it usually takes him or her to sell a house. This is often a hard question for an agent to answer, simply because every situation is slightly different and unique.

As you discuss this, you may also want to ask the agent how long he or she thinks it will take to sell your house. As you talk about this, you can ask questions about the real estate market and about the challenges your agent suspects you might face with your house. Asking a lot of questions is a great way to get to know a realtor and know what to expect during the process of selling a house.

Asking questions is important when hiring a realtor, and you should always make sure you hire one you feel comfortable talking to. To learn more, contact a real estate office today.