If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in Orlando, you probably have a ton of questions about the Orlando real estate market and how much your house will sell for. In addition to these questions, there are other questions you should be asking an Orlando realtor before you commit to working with them. 

1- Are you a realtor or just a real estate agent?

It’s important to know that a “REALTOR” is more than just a licensed real estate agent. A realtor belongs to an organization known as the National Association of Realtors [NAR]. Realtors operate under a code of ethics that exceeds what might be demanded of other real estate professionals. You should also ask your realtor about any other industry certifications they may have.

2- How much commission do you charge?

Realtors have the power to negotiate their commission. Find out how much they usually charge and ask if they will be willing to give you a better rate than usual. Although some realtors are given strict guidelines by the brokers that they work for, it never hurts to ask.

3- What makes you different than other realtors?

This question will really put the realtor on the spot and provide you with the opportunity to see how they react to it.  You’ll also see what kind of personality they have and if it meshes well with yours. Remember, this is someone that you’ll be dealing with on an everyday basis so it’s important that you feel comfortable with them.

4- How will you market my house?

Unfortunately, some realtors rely solely on the Multiple Listing Service [MLS] to sell their homes. But the truth is that there are several other things that a realtor can do to get a house sold quickly for top dollar. You want to hire a realtor that uses every tool in their toolbox like social media, videos, direct mail, blogging, etc. The more exposure your property gets, the better your chances will be of getting it sold for the highest amount possible. 

5- Do your listings typically sell for the asking price?

Ask your realtor to show you some of their more recent home sales. Then compare what the original listing price was to the sold price. This is a good indicator of how good the realtor is at pricing homes correctly from the start.

It’s the agent’s job to help you to come up with the listing price. Therefore if the home was priced correctly, there should be no reason why it wouldn’t sell for the asking price or at least very close to it.

6- What’s the best way to reach you?

Let your realtor know that you will be in contact with them often and that you expect them to be easily accessible to you. Find out the most convenient way to keep in touch for both of you is by email or text and make sure that they understand that you would like to be updated on what’s going on with your property regularly.