What to Look for When Choosing Your Next Agent
After the frustrating experience of having your home expire off the market, the thought of jumping back in with another agent can be daunting. The first experience may have left you feeling like the process doesn’t work. The truth is, the process does work, but it requires the right strategy and the right professional partner to execute it.
Choosing your next agent is the single most important decision you will make in the relisting process. You’re not just looking for someone to put a sign in the yard; you’re looking for a strategic partner who can diagnose why your home didn’t sell and implement a plan that guarantees a different result. To help you interview with confidence, here are the key questions you should be asking.
Question 1: “What is your specific marketing plan for my home?”
This is where you separate the passive listers from the proactive marketers. A weak answer sounds like, “I’ll put it on the MLS, Zillow, and we’ll see what happens.” That’s the bare minimum, and it’s likely what happened last time.
A Strong Answer Sounds Like: “We’ll begin by creating a flawless online presentation of your home, starting with professional photography. From there, we launch a multi-channel campaign designed to put your property in front of the most likely buyers. This includes a powerful online presence and proactive outreach to the entire local agent community. We then monitor the results and adapt our strategy to keep your home positioned to sell.”
Question 2: “How will you determine the list price?”
After an unsuccessful listing, pricing strategy is paramount. A weak answer is, “Well, what do you want to list it for?” or a number based solely on an online estimate without seeing the home.
A Strong Answer Sounds Like: “I will prepare a comprehensive Comparative Market Analysis, or CMA, before suggesting a price. This isn’t just a computer printout; it’s a deep dive into recent comparable sales, your current competition, and, most importantly, the listings that have expired in your area. We’ll review this data together, and I’ll explain my reasoning so you can make an informed decision on a strategic price that will drive traffic and attract strong offers.”
Question 3: “Can I see examples of your recent listing photography?”
In today’s market, an agent is a marketer, and their listing photos are their portfolio. An agent who is proud of their marketing will be eager to show you examples. When you look at them, ask yourself: Are the photos bright, crisp, and professional? Are the vertical lines straight? Do they make the homes look inviting? Do they tell a story? As an agent with a professional background in photography, I know this is a non-negotiable part of the process.
Question 4: “What is your experience with homes that didn’t sell the first time?”
This might be the most important question. Selling an expired listing requires a different skill set than selling a brand new, perfectly priced home in a hot market. It requires a diagnostic approach. You want an agent who sees your home’s history not as a problem, but as valuable data.
A Strong Answer Sounds Like: “I specialize in this exact situation. My first step will be to analyze your previous listing to understand why it didn’t connect with buyers. Was it the price, the photos, the marketing exposure, or something else? From there, we’ll build a fresh strategy that directly addresses those weaknesses. My goal is to relaunch your home, not just relist it.”
The Final Decision: Choose a Partner, Not Just a Taker
When you relist your home, you’re placing a massive financial and emotional asset in someone’s hands. You deserve a partner who can provide a clear plan, expert execution, and transparent communication. By asking these questions, you can move past the sales pitch and find a true professional who can get the job done.
Contact me today to get started: team@floridaheartlandteam.com (863) 238-7999
