There are a lot of factors that can impact how quickly you sell your home and how much money you get for it. One of these factors is the real estate agent you choose to work with. The agent will know what to do to help you make the most money from the sale of your house. Whereas, the wrong agent could provide you with bad advice for selling a home or unfair fees that could result in a decrease in your profits or even further delays in selling your home.

Since finding the right real estate agent is so essential, you will want to take some time deciding who you'd like to work with. There is absolutely nothing wrong with interviewing a few different agents to get a feel for who seems like they will be the best fit for your needs. If you haven't sold a home before, or if it's been a long time, you may not even know what questions you should ask an agent. In this article, we'll share 9 interview questions to ask a realtor to help you get your search off to a good start.

1. Why are you the best agent for me to work with?

This question will give the agent a chance to sell themselves to you. They can share all of their qualifications and past successes to help you get a sense of who you'd be working with, should you choose to use them. When listening to their answer, listen for signs that they are responsive, honest, good at negotiating, experienced, and ready to work hard to get you the best offer for your home.

2. Have you sold other homes in my neighborhood before? If so, how many?

When possible, finding a real estate agent who is familiar with your neighborhood is a good idea. If they are familiar with the area, they will be better able to set the best asking price for your home that will appeal to potential buyers without being too low or too high. They will also have an idea of some of the features home buyers are looking for in a home in your neighborhood and should be able to help you prioritize which repairs and improvements you should make.

3. How much do you think we should list my house for? Why?

Comparing the answers that different real estate agents give for this question can really help you narrow down your choices. Don't just pick the agent that shares the highest price, carefully listen to his reasoning behind that price to see if what he says sounds reasonable.

4. What will you do to market my house and make it more likely for prospective buyers to find it?

You want to find an agent that is prepared to work hard to get your house sold. When they're answering this question, you'll want to hear information about staging the home/working with you to help it look its best for pictures and viewings and holding multiple open houses (as necessary). You may also want to find an agent that will create a home information sheet/brochure to share with potential buyers that will highlight all the great features of your home.

5. What steps will we need to take to get my house listed and sold?

This is another important question because it will prepare you for all the steps ahead of you. Listen to see what repairs or improvements may help increase the value of your home, what the listing process looks like, and what your job will be as the seller.

6. How much should I expect to pay in closing costs?

While they may not be able to give you an exact amount, a good real estate agent should be able to give you an idea of what you'll need to pay in closing costs. This can help make sure you're prepared.

7. How many other sellers are you currently working with?

You'll want to think carefully about the answer to this question. Agents who are working with lots of other sellers may be busier and less available and responsive. However, on the flip side, agents who are only working with a few other sellers may not be top performers or maybe less experienced.

8. Do you have the contact information for some of your past clients who could serve as a reference?

It is always a good idea to chat with a few people who have actually worked with a real estate agent you're considering. This way you can hear what others have to say about the agent instead of only relying on what the agent tells you.

9. How long will I need to commit to using you as my agent?

Finally, be sure to find out the terms of the contract you'll be signing. If you aren't happy with the agent you select, you'll want to know how long you'll need to continue working with them before you can look for a new agent.

Now that you have this list of interview questions to guide you in your search for the best real estate agent, it is time to start your search. You can perform an online search or use the recommendations of friends or family to identify a few realtors that may be a good fit for you. But don't rely solely on what others say; use the questions above to see which agent seems best prepared and qualified to deserve your business.