11 Steps to Find the Best Realtor to Sell Your Home

Selling your home is exciting, but let’s be honest it can also feel a little overwhelming. Think of this guide as your personal roadmap to finding the right realtor someone who understands your goals, knows the market, and has your back every step of the way.

Start With Smart Questions

Before you even start looking at houses online or putting your home on the market, take a moment to think about what you really need in a top real estate agent. Asking the right questions early helps you avoid surprises later and ensures you choose someone who’s a good fit for you and your home.

1. Understand Their Experience in Real Estate

Experience matters. According to data from the National Association of Realtors, agents with strong market knowledge are better equipped to price and position homes effectively.

A seasoned agent knows the neighborhoods, the buyers, and the market trends that can make a big difference in how quickly your home sells and at what price. But don’t discount newer agents they can be incredibly energetic and motivated to prove themselves.

2. Confirm Their Focus: Buyers or Sellers

Some agents love working with buyers, while others focus on selling homes. For your situation, you want a listing expert someone who knows how to position your home, market it effectively, and negotiate strong offers.

3. Evaluate Their Current Workload

Your home deserves attention. If an agent is juggling too many listings, yours could get lost in the shuffle. Ask about their current workload so you can feel confident they’ll be fully committed to your sale.

4. Learn How Their Team Is Structured

Many realtors work with a team that may include assistants, marketing professionals, and transaction coordinators working behind the scenes. The key question: who will you actually talk to if you have a question? Knowing this keeps communication smooth.

5. Identify Their Area of Expertise

Some agents focus on luxury estates, condos, or historic homes in Old Town. Finding an agent who specializes in homes like yours gives you an edge they know how to highlight your property’s best features and attract the right buyers.

6. Make Sure They Can Handle Your Specific Needs

Your home may be a quick sale, a fixer-upper, or part of a more complex situation. Ask if they’ve handled similar homes before. Their experience will give you peace of mind that they can handle challenges and get creative if needed.

7. Review Their Home Marketing Plan

Marketing is where a great agent shines. Ask how they’ll showcase your home professional photography, video tours, social media, email campaigns, open houses. The more thoughtful and thorough their plan, the better your chances of selling quickly and for top dollar.

8. Ask for Past Client Feedback

Hearing from past clients is invaluable. Ask about their experience, how the agent handled hiccups, and whether they felt supported. Real stories from real people are the best way to know what it’s really like to work with someone.

9. Set Clear Communication Expectations

Selling a home can be stressful if you’re left wondering what’s happening. Talk about how often and in what way they’ll keep you updated. Whether it’s texts, emails, or phone calls, agreeing on communication upfront keeps everyone on the same page.

10. Walk Through the Selling and Showing Strategy

Ask how they’ll price your home, stage it, and schedule showings. How many showings do they expect? How will they handle offers? Understanding their plan helps you feel confident that your home is in good hands.

11. Agree on All the Important Details

Before you sign any contract, make sure you understand the commission, contract length, marketing approach, and how they’ll communicate. Being clear from the start prevents surprises and ensures a smooth experience.

BONUS TIPS:

Compare Real Estate Agents Online

Take a little time to research agents online, but don’t just skim the first few results. Look for reviews, their recent sales, and their expertise in your neighborhood. Online research of top real estate agents gives you a sense of how agents operate and how satisfied their past clients are.

I always tell my clients that online research is like window shopping you get a feel for reputation and style, but the real understanding comes from talking to the agent directly.

Interview Multiple Agents

Once you’ve narrowed down your list, meet with a few agents in person. Pay attention to their communication style, professionalism, and how well they understand your home and goals. Meeting multiple agents helps you compare approaches and find someone you genuinely connect with.

Katy Tips for Home Sellers

1. Write down your questions before the first meeting so you don’t forget anything.
   
   

2. Weigh experience vs. energy newer agents can bring creative marketing ideas.
   
   

3. Ask for recent home sales similar to yours to see proven results.
   
   

4. Balance experience with availability avoid agents who are too busy to give your home attention.
   
   

5. Know your primary contact if the agent is part of a team.
   
   

6. Specialized agents sell unique homes better think mid-century modern, luxury estates, or condos.
   
   

7. Ask for examples of tricky situations they’ve handled to gauge problem-solving skills.
   
   

8. Check online presence many buyers are out-of-state, so your home must shine digitally.
   
   

9. Request references with similar homes to understand their real-world approach.
   
   

10. Set communication expectations upfront whether weekly updates or after every showing.
    
    

11. Consider seasonality Scottsdale has hot and slow periods; strategy may vary.
    
    

12. Get everything in writing to protect both you and your agent.
    
    

13. Meet agents at your home if possible seeing how they interact with your space shows professionalism and style.
    
    

 11 Steps to Find the Best Realtor

Selling your Scottsdale home doesn’t have to be stressful. By asking thoughtful questions, understanding your agent’s approach, and trusting your instincts, you’ll find the right realtor someone who not only gets the job done but makes the experience positive and memorable.

Selling Your Home in Scottsdale? Let’s Create a Winning Strategy

If you’re thinking about selling your home in Scottsdale, you don’t have to navigate the process alone. I’m Katy White, and I’ve helped countless homeowners navigate this journey. With the right pricing, marketing, and negotiation strategy, you can sell confidently and for top value. I’m here to guide you every step of the way answering your questions, protecting your interests, and making the experience as smooth and successful as possible. Reach out today to start a conversation and see how a tailored selling plan can make all the difference.