If you’re looking to sell the house you financed with a VA home loan, you may be overwhelmed by the many choices of real estate agents. HGTV’s Front Door suggests homeowners who are selling their residences interview at least three agents before they sign a contract. To identify the best real estate agent for you, the source recommended asking certain questions to get a feel for their abilities.
How good of a salesperson are they?
The first question to ask is a real estate agent is how much he or she can sell your house for. If the three agents’ answers are thousands of dollars apart, it’s likely the higher estimate is an exaggeration. Keep this in mind, because by pricing your home too high, you can discourage potential buyers.
It is also important to get a feel for how the real estate agent likes to conduct business. Find out how they plan to market your home, and listen for innovative ideas. They should go beyond listing your home on the internet or holding an open house. Agents should be able to pinpoint who would be most interested in your home and how to target to that group. They should also be able to talk about how they utilize the newest technology to stay competitive in the home market.
It’s alright to also think of this process as a job interview – after all, you will be paying your agent at the end. Utilize questions that employers might ask, such as how their last two deals surprised them or what their specialties are. Make sure that they have a keen sense of sales and are able to target the demographics that would be interested in your home. In essence, make sure they’re a good fit for the job.
Do they understand VA Home Loans?
Since you have a VA home loan, it’s also important that your agent understands how the VA home loan program works and would be able to suggest the best solution to you and a potential buyer. When can you transfer a loan to the buyer, and when should you pay it off? The best advice will differ once a sale comes to fruition, but your real estate agent should have an idea of how to guide you once that happens.
Finally, ask the real estate agent their fee. This question – or others – might seem awkward, but you want this sale to be profitable and seamless for you. Make sure you have all of your questions out of the way so you can start the process of moving toward a sale.
If you have worked with a VA-approved lender that you trust, you may want to ask them for a referral to a reputable real estate broker who understands the VA loan process. That way you know you’re putting one of your most valuable assets into the hands of someone you can rely upon to keep your best interest in mind.
