What questions should I ask a listing agent before hiring them?
Ask for evidence, not opinions. The essentials: how many homes like mine have you sold in this area in the last twelve months; what is your average list-to-sale-price ratio and days on market; what price do you recommend and which comparable sales support it; exactly what marketing is included and who pays for it; what is your fee and what would change it; and how do I cancel if this is not working?
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The strongest questions have verifiable answers. “Are you a good negotiator?” invites a yes. “What was your list-to-sale ratio across your last ten listings?” invites a number you can compare between agents — and reveals whether the agent tracks their own performance at all.
Push hardest on the recommended price. Ask which specific comparable sales support it, how recent they are, how similar in condition and square footage, and what the agent would do if the market does not respond in the first three weeks. An agent who has thought about the downside has a plan; one who has not will improvise with your equity.
Get the marketing specifics in writing rather than as adjectives. Professional photography, floor plans, video or drone where relevant, staging or consultation, print, paid social, open-house schedule, and syndication — and crucially, which of those you would be billed for separately. “Full-service marketing” is not a commitment.
Then ask the two questions sellers skip. First: what are the total costs to me at closing, beyond your commission? Second: what are the terms for ending the agreement early, including any protection period during which you would still owe a fee if a buyer you introduced returns? Both are far easier to ask before signing than after.