While reading a blog the other day (http://www.dumblittleman.com/2006/06/selling-your-home-10-questions-i-asked.html / ) a Dumb Little Man who asked the following questions I or several real estate agents before selling his home.  Be sure to check out his blog (i’ll link it at the bottom too) for some great tips and tricks when selecting an agent.

I want to answer them from Our point of view because they are great questions everyone should ask.

His Question: How are you going to advertise my home?

Home Team Ottawa’s Response:  Well we have a carefully planned marketing system to ramp you home up to 10.  We’ll start by placing a few classified ads the weeks leading up to your listing (while you get the home ready, photo’s are taken, marketing is finalized) to generate a list of interested parties to homes like your/the area.  Once we list you home for sale it will be emailed to every agent in the city who has buyers looking for your sort of home, and advertise it on:

Realtor.ca       (which includes OttawaRealEstate.Org and an exclusive Realtor database of properties.)

KWOttawa.ca (including dozens of Agents personal websites)

HomeTeamOttawa.com (which receives over 5000 visits a month)

OttawaLiving.ca, UsedOttawa.com, UsedGatineau.com, & BizCaf.ca

and Kijiji.ca  (on 48h rotations)

His follow up Question Who specifically is following up on leads?

HTO:  Our buyers agents Keith Bray and Reed Allen are on weekly rotations and between 8am and 10pm they follow up with every inquiry on your property.

His Question: Why are you saying my home is worth $400K when I think its worth $325K?

HTO:  Funny story…no one says that, they say why are saying my home is worth $325K when I think its worth $400K… but regardless, in areas where the builder built many homes of similar models and styles it is easy for use to tell from the “comps” what the going rate/sq ft is.  On older and unique homes we order a formal appraisal.
His Question: Is your realty company placing pictures on your website and other listing services?

HTO:  YES!  We have a professional photographer who creates a virtual tour for every home we list and we put AS MANY photos as WE CAN in every listing.  The virtual tour also get’s loaded to our face book and twitter feeds so everyone can see them.

Note: There are 2 missing questions from the original blog that were not relevant to Canadian Real Estate

His Question: What are your stats?

HTO: Our Last post -> 10 Reasons you should hire HTO is all about stats and I’ve got more if you need them.
His Question: How accessible are you?

HTO: Very, we have a main line for the team that is checked until 11pm every night and as early as 8am, If I’m busy with another property or client I would hate for your question to go unanswered, that’s why we rely on team work.  We talk about all of our properties every week at our team meetings so my teammates will know the property and your situation as well.

His Question: What is your commission?
HTO:  We’ll need to talk in person about that. (That’s a half answer I know)
His Question: How can I prepare to show my home?

HTO: We’ll be paying for and sending over a professional stager to give you suggestions on how to set up your rooms and sprucing up that might need to be done in order to get you the MAXIMUM value in the sale of your home.
His Question: Can I have the names and phone numbers of the last 3 people that listed with you?

HTO: I don’t see why not they are…wait this is the internet…you’ll keep it to yourself right?
Again the blog I referred to was:

http://www.dumblittleman.com/2006/06/selling-your-home-10-questions-i-asked.html/

Home Team Ottawa (.com)

…Guiding You Home

Home Team Blog is published on behalf of:

Sylvie Begin, Broker

Bill Meyer, Sales Representative

Keith Bray, Sales Representative

Direct – 613-788-2113

Keller Williams Ottawa Realty, Independently Owned and Operated

Office – 613-236-5959

Not intended to solicit business from anyone under contract with a REALTOR ©

© Dave Williams 2011