How to Hire a Realtor to Sell Your Home?

• Agent-assisted homes sold for $46,000 more than FSBOs in 2023.

• Sellers should contact a Realtor 1–3 months before listing for optimal prep.

• FSBO homes attract less exposure and lower offers due to lack of professional marketing.

• Realtors using strategic pricing and marketing sell homes faster and closer to asking price.

• Listings with pro photography receive 61% more views and sell up to 32% faster.

Why Hiring the Right Realtor Matters

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) says 91% of home sellers worked with a real estate agent in 2023. And there is a good reason for this. Agent-assisted homes sold for a median price of $356,000. Homes sold by owners alone went for $310,000. This is a $46,000 difference in money you earned.

These numbers show a clear fact: hiring a Realtor to sell your home does more than save time. It also puts more money in your pocket. Good agents know the local area, use tested marketing plans, and have strong negotiation skills. These skills help them get the best price. During the whole sale, these things can make you much more money than if you try to sell by yourself.

But not all agents are the same. Some Realtors do better than others. They use pricing based on data, professional staging, good online visibility, and a network of agents who work with buyers. The “right” Realtor works like a business expert. They focus on selling your house for the most money possible, not just selling it.

PRO TIP: Do you want great results without a high fee? Full-service agents who charge only a 1% listing fee can help you sell faster and for more. And they can save you thousands.

When Should I Contact a Realtor to Sell My Home?

You should hire a Realtor about 30 to 90 days before you plan to list your home. Why such a wide time frame? Successful listings are not just put together quickly. They are planned well, staged, and timed with market trends to get the most interest and money.

Starting early gives your agent time to:

• Tour your home and find upgrades or repairs that add value

• Look at very local market data to help set the price

• Recommend stagers, photographers, and inspectors if needed

• Arrange marketing materials like 3D walkthroughs or drone footage

• Create a timeline that matches your listing with the best market times

TIMELINE TIP:

Do not wait until your moving day is weeks away. Getting interest starts long before your home is for sale.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Realtor?

Traditionally, home sellers pay 5% to 6% of the sale price in commission fees—typically split between the buyer’s agent and the listing agent. This can mean tens of thousands of dollars out of your pocket.

Here’s the standard breakdown:

• 2.5% to 3% → Listing (seller’s) agent

• 2.5% to 3% → Buyer’s agent

For example, in a $500,000 transaction, that’s $25,000–$30,000 just in commission fees.

Luckily, new ways of doing things are changing how this works. With our 1% full-service listing fee, you still get to work with great agents and have full support from start to finish. And you can save thousands.

SAVINGS SNAPSHOT:

A low fee should not mean bad service. You can sell in a better way and save more.

Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Realtor

Treat your Realtor interviews like job interviews. You want experience, clear answers, and a mind that plans well. Interview at least three agents. And use these groups to help you ask questions.

Performance Questions

• How many homes have you sold in my zip code?

• What’s your average days on market?

• What percentage of your listings close above asking?

• What’s your sale-to-list price ratio?

Experienced agents who do better than others in the market can give you real numbers and success stories.

Communication & Strategy Questions

• How often will we communicate, and what communication style do you use (phone, email, text)?

• How do you handle pricing if we don’t get offers quickly?

• How do you respond to negative buyer feedback?

You want an agent who acts first, is open, and can change fast.

Marketing Questions

• What marketing methods do you use besides the MLS listing?

• Do you provide professionally shot photos, video tours, or drone footage?

• Will you run targeted ads or promote the listing on social media?

Good quality media and wide reach are things you must have in today’s market where digital tools are used first.

Service Questions

• Who will manage showings and open houses?

• Will you help with staging or offer virtual staging options?

• Are other team members involved in the process?

A well-organized and careful service plan makes sure nothing is missed.

Red Flags to Watch Out For

Some agents might talk a good game but do not follow through. Look for these warning signs. They often mean longer selling times or lower offers:

• No data to support pricing recommendations

• Cell phone photos or poor-quality marketing assets

• Lack of detailed marketing plans or timelines

• High-pressure sales tactics during the first meeting

• Unclear commission fees or service details

If something feels off, it probably is. Trust your instincts, but back them with fact-checking.

Top Signs You Should Hire That Realtor

Just like there are red flags, there are green lights showing you have found a great partner to sell your home. Look for these key qualities:

• Transparent and clearly explained fee structure

• Good history of results in your zip code

• Experience with homes similar in price and features to yours

• Verified reviews on trusted platforms like Zillow, Realtor.com, or Google

• Organized marketing timelines and what they will provide, clearly stated from the start

A good Realtor offers services, but also actions that get results.

Key Services You Should Expect from a Listing Agent

Selling your house well needs more than just putting photos on the MLS. An experienced Realtor usually offers two levels of services: essentials and added features.

Must-Have Services

• Detailed pricing plan based on facts

• Sending MLS listings to top home search websites

• Professional photography and/or 3D virtual tours

• Digital scheduling tool for showings and open houses

• Help with reviewing offers and skill in negotiating with buyers

• Managing the contract, inspections, and closing process

Nice-to-Have Add-Ons

• Expert staging advice or full-service staging

• Paid advertising (social media, search engines)

• Drone footage or cinematic listing videos

• Direct contact with local buyer’s agents who have clients ready to buy

• Open house scheduling and foot traffic tracking

Reminder: All of the “must-haves” come standard when you hire us for just 1%.

Should I Work with a Realtor or Go FSBO?

People still talk about selling your home yourself (FSBO) versus hiring a Realtor. While FSBO might save you on listing commission, studies show the risks and results rarely help sellers.

NAR data shows FSBO homes usually sell for 13–26% less than homes sold with an agent. Also, dealing with the stress of marketing, negotiations, and legal paperwork means selling by yourself often brings more stress than it is worth.

What Happens After Hiring?

Your Realtor’s job does not end after you sign. A professional agent will guide you through each step of the sale:

You should get regular updates and see proof of results. And you should be able to make good choices at every stage.

Why Paying Less Doesn’t Mean Cutting Corners

Some people think a lower commission means lower quality. But this is not true with today’s brokerages that use technology well. Our 1% model cuts down on big costs. But it still offers top performance.

What’s included with our 1% listing service:

• A smart pricing plan based on comparable sales and future predictions

• Professional photography, listing descriptions, and sending listings to the MLS

• Digital marketing campaigns across Zillow, Realtor.com, and Facebook

• Complete management of the sale, from preparing to list to after closing

Even with new rules for clear fees after 2024, we keep offering clear costs, good prices, and full support to sellers across the country.

How We Help You Sell Smarter

Picking the right Realtor means knowing your choices. And it means understanding the money you could make. When you work with us, here is what you get:

• Full-service Realtor for just 1% (minimum $3,000)

• Professional marketing and sending listings to many websites

• A support team for every step of your home sale

• Data and insights to help you get the best list price and sell faster

• Average of $10,000+ in savings compared to traditional 3% agents

• Tools to compare listing vs. cash offer in real-time

Citations

National Association of Realtors. (2024). Highlights From the Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. Retrieved from https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/research-reports/highlights-from-the-profile-of-home-buyers-and-sellers