10 Questions to Ask an Orlando Realtor

10 Questions to Ask a Realtor Before Selling Your Orlando Home

Choosing the Realtor who will sell your home is an important decision.

You aren't simply hiring someone to put your property in the MLS. You're choosing the person who will help you price your home, market it, evaluate offers, negotiate on your behalf, manage inspections and appraisals, watch contract deadlines and help you navigate problems if something doesn't go as planned.

I'm Eve Metlis with Watson Realty Corp, and after more than 21 years selling real estate in Orlando and Central Florida, I believe sellers should ask questions before choosing an agent. I work with both sellers and buyers throughout Central Florida, including resale, luxury, new construction and relocation.

Here are 10 questions I recommend asking every Realtor you interview.

1. How Did You Determine the Recommended List Price for My Home?

Don't focus only on the number.

Ask the Realtor to show you how they reached it.

A pricing recommendation should consider recent comparable sales, current competition, pending sales, condition, location, buyer activity and what is happening in your particular price range.

Ask:

Which homes are you comparing mine to?

Why are those properties comparable?

What competing homes will buyers see when they compare them with mine?

What changes in the market could affect this price?

Be cautious about automatically choosing the agent who recommends the highest list price.

Your home isn't worth more simply because one Realtor gives you a higher number.

The better question is whether the agent can support the recommendation with market evidence.

If you'd like a deeper look at evaluating an agent, read my guide on how to choose the best Realtor to sell your home in Orlando.

2. How Many Homes Have You Sold?

Years in the business can tell you something, but transaction experience matters too.

Ask:

How many homes have you sold during your career?

How many sellers do you represent in a typical year?

How much of your business comes from listings?

Do you regularly work in my area and price range?

I've helped clients through more than 721 home sales and over $210 million in closed real estate volume during my career.

I've also been the top listing agent in my Watson Realty Corp office for 11 consecutive years.

Those numbers don't mean I am automatically the right Realtor for every homeowner. They do tell you that I've handled hundreds of transactions and have experience managing the situations that can arise between listing and closing.

Because I also work with buyers, I see both sides of the market. That helps me understand how buyers compare homes, what they respond to, what concerns them and what can influence their decisions.

3. What Are Your Average Days on Market?

Ask for the agent's numbers rather than accepting statements such as "My homes sell quickly."

Then ask for context.

My current listings average approximately 77 days on market compared with approximately 116 days in the Central Florida market I track.

No Realtor can guarantee how quickly your particular home will sell.

Price, location, condition, competition, interest rates and buyer demand all affect the outcome.

But comparing an agent's performance with the surrounding market can help you evaluate their track record.

4. What Is Your Sale-to-List Price Ratio?

This is another useful number, but don't look at it in isolation.

My current sale-to-list price ratio is approximately 97%.

Ask an agent:

Is that based on the original list price or the final asking price?

How many listings required price reductions?

How does your number compare with the current market?

A house that starts substantially overpriced and eventually sells at 100% of its reduced price tells a different story from a properly positioned home that sells without multiple reductions.

The number matters.

The story behind the number matters too.

5. Exactly How Will You Market My Home?

"Putting it online" is not a marketing plan.

Ask the Realtor to explain exactly what they intend to do.

Depending on the property, my marketing strategy can include professional photography, video, social media marketing, database marketing, open houses, online promotion, direct outreach and exposure across major real estate websites.

But I also pay attention to what happens after the marketing begins.

Are people viewing the listing?

Are they saving it?

Are buyers scheduling showings?

What feedback are we receiving?

Are competing homes going under contract?

Because I also work directly with buyers, I hear firsthand what buyers are looking for, what turns them off and how they compare one property with another.

Marketing should create exposure, but it should also provide information we can use to make better decisions.

6. How Will You Communicate With Me After My Home Is Listed?

This question gets overlooked.

Before you hire an agent, find out what communication will look like after the listing agreement is signed.

Ask:

How often will I hear from you?

Will you contact me even if there isn't much activity?

Who will give me showing feedback?

How will we discuss changes in the market?

Will I communicate with you or someone else on your team?

You shouldn't have to wonder what is happening with one of your largest financial assets.

7. What Will You Do If My Home Isn't Getting Showings or Offers?

This may be one of the most revealing questions you ask.

Every Realtor can explain what happens when a home receives an offer.

Ask what happens when it doesn't.

A strong listing strategy needs a Plan B.

If a home isn't receiving enough activity, I look at the information the market is giving us.

That includes showing activity, buyer feedback, online engagement, new competition, recent pending sales, price reductions around us and changes in buyer demand.

Sometimes the answer is marketing.

Sometimes it is presentation or condition.

Sometimes it is price.

Your Realtor should be willing to tell you which one they believe is affecting your sale and explain why.

8. How Do You Evaluate an Offer Besides the Purchase Price?

The highest offer isn't always the strongest offer.

Ask your Realtor what they look at when comparing offers.

Important terms can include:

  • Financing

  • Down payment

  • Earnest money deposit

  • Inspection period

  • Appraisal terms

  • Financing deadlines

  • Seller concessions

  • Closing date

  • Contingencies

  • Buyer's ability to perform

A strong price with weak financing or difficult terms may not be better than a slightly lower offer with a stronger overall contract.

Working with buyers as well as sellers also gives me insight into how financing, monthly payment concerns, contingencies and buyer motivation can affect an offer.

Your Realtor should help you understand both the money and the risk.

9. What Happens If Something Goes Wrong After We Are Under Contract?

This is where transaction experience becomes especially important.

Ask the Realtor how they handle:

Inspection problems

Low appraisals

Financing delays

Insurance issues

Title problems

Missed contract deadlines

Requests for repairs or credits

Closing delays

Not every transaction has a problem.

But when one does, you want someone who knows how to evaluate the issue, communicate with the other parties and help you understand your options.

Selling a home isn't finished when you receive an offer.

It's finished when the transaction closes.

10. Who Will Actually Be Handling My Listing?

This is particularly important when interviewing a team or a high-volume agent.

Ask:

Who will I speak with after I sign the listing agreement?

Who will negotiate offers?

Who communicates with the buyer's agent?

Who monitors contract deadlines?

Who will advise me if a problem arises?

I'm the team lead of the Eve Metlis Team at Watson Realty Corp and remain directly involved in my clients' transactions.

There is nothing wrong with an agent having support.

You should simply understand who will be responsible for what before you hire them.

One More Question: What Do You Think I Need to Know That I Haven't Asked?

I would add an eleventh question even though this is a list of 10.

Ask the Realtor:

"What haven't I asked you that you think I need to know?"

A good agent may bring up something you hadn't considered.

Maybe it's your home's condition.

Maybe it's competition entering the market.

Maybe it's timing.

Maybe it's insurance.

Maybe it's something about your expected selling price.

Listen closely to the answer.

You're not only evaluating what the Realtor knows.

You're evaluating whether they're willing to have a straightforward conversation with you.

How Should You Compare Realtors After the Interviews?

Don't automatically choose:

The agent with the highest suggested price.

The agent with the lowest fee.

The agent with the flashiest presentation.

Or even the agent you personally like the most.

Instead, compare their:

  • Experience

  • Recent results

  • Pricing analysis

  • Marketing strategy

  • Communication plan

  • Negotiation experience

  • Local knowledge

  • Ability to explain the market clearly

  • Reviews from past clients

  • Plan if the home doesn't sell immediately

Your goal should be to find the Realtor you trust to give you good information and help you make good decisions throughout the sale.

For more guidance, read How to Choose the Best Realtor to Sell Your Home in Orlando.

Thinking About Selling Your Orlando Home?

You don't need to be ready to put a sign in the yard before talking with a Realtor.

Some of the most useful conversations happen weeks or months before a home is listed.

We can talk about your home's potential value, what buyers are looking for, whether any preparation makes sense, what is happening with competing homes and what your timeline could look like.

And if your next move includes buying another home, I can help you with that side of the process too.

I work with both sellers and buyers throughout Orlando, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Windermere and Central Florida, including resale, luxury, relocation and new construction.

If you're considering selling, buying or doing both, contact me and let's talk about your plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

What questions should I ask a Realtor before selling my house?

Ask about the Realtor's experience, recent sales, pricing strategy, average days on market, sale-to-list price ratio, marketing plan, communication process, negotiation experience and what happens if your home doesn't receive offers.

How many Realtors should I interview before selling my home?

There is no required number. Interview enough agents to understand your options and feel confident about your decision. Comparing two or three Realtors can help you identify meaningful differences in pricing recommendations, marketing plans, communication and experience.

Should I choose the Realtor who gives me the highest home value?

Not automatically. Ask each Realtor to explain the comparable sales and current competition supporting their recommended price. A higher suggested list price does not necessarily mean your home will sell for more.

What should I look for in an Orlando listing agent?

Look for relevant listing experience, knowledge of your area and price range, measurable results, a clear pricing strategy, a specific marketing plan, strong communication and experience managing a transaction from listing through closing.

Should I ask a Realtor for their sales statistics?

Yes. Ask about recent listing activity, days on market and sale-to-list price results, but also ask how those numbers are calculated and how they compare with the local market.

Does it matter if my Realtor works with both buyers and sellers?

It can be helpful. An agent who works with both sides of the market may have additional insight into how buyers search, compare homes, react to pricing and evaluate terms in an offer.

What are red flags when interviewing a Realtor?

Potential red flags include a pricing recommendation the agent cannot support with comparable sales, vague answers about marketing, unwillingness to discuss what happens if the home doesn't sell, unclear communication expectations or an inability to explain who will actually manage your transaction.

When should I interview Realtors before selling?

You can begin interviewing Realtors several months before you expect to sell. Starting early can give you more time to make decisions about repairs, improvements, preparation, timing and pricing before your home reaches the market.

Can the same Realtor help me sell my current home and buy my next one?

Yes. Many homeowners use the same Realtor to coordinate both transactions. This can be especially helpful when timing the sale of one property with the purchase of another home.