Questions to Ask Your Realtor Before Hiring Them (Selling)
The essential questions to ask a listing agent before you trust them with your Houston home sale — and what a strong answer sounds like.
Before you hire a listing agent in Houston, ask about their track record and closure rate, pricing method, full marketing plan, recent sales in your area, total costs and net proceeds, staging approach, days-on-market, and reviews. The answers reveal whether they'll sell your home fast and for top dollar.
Listing your home is too important to hand to whoever sends the flashiest mailer. Use this checklist when you interview listing agents (including Alan). Pair it with the free Seller Net Sheet calculator so you walk in knowing your numbers.
The questions — and what a strong answer sounds like
Are you a broker or an agent, and what's your track record and closure rate?
Your home is likely your biggest asset — ask who's actually handling it. Alan is a licensed Texas broker (TREC #562620) with $145M+ in sales and a 98.9% closure rate.
How do you arrive at a list price for my home?
Pricing is the single biggest lever on speed and final sale amount. A strong agent shows you comparable sales and market data — not just a flattering number to win the listing.
What exactly is your marketing plan?
Ask to see it: professional photography, online syndication, and targeted exposure to real buyers. Vague answers are a red flag.
How many homes have you sold in my area and price range recently?
Relevant, recent experience beats general tenure. You want someone who's sold homes like yours, near yours, lately.
What are all the costs and commissions — and what will I actually net?
Insist on a full net sheet, not just a commission percentage. Try Alan's free Seller Net Sheet calculator, then have him run your real numbers.
How will you prepare and stage my home to sell?
Small prep moves can add real money. A good listing agent gives specific, practical guidance. Alan literally wrote 'How to Sell Homes Fast for Top Dollar.'
What are your average days-on-market and list-to-sale-price ratio?
These two numbers reveal how well an agent prices and sells. Ask for their actual figures.
How do you handle offers and negotiation?
You want a clear process for reviewing, countering, and protecting your interests. Alan is a 2× Battle of the Brokers Champion.
Do you offer cash or as-is options if I need speed?
Sometimes certainty beats top dollar. As an active investor, Alan can present a cash/as-is option and compare it honestly to listing on the open market.
Can you share seller references or reviews?
Verified reviews from real sellers tell you what to expect. Alan holds a 4.9-star rating from 177 verified Google reviews.
How Alan answers these
Alan is a licensed Texas broker who has closed $145M+ with a 98.9% closure rate and authored two books on selling homes fast for top dollar. He answers all of these openly. Book a free consultation or call (832) 532-9229. Ready to list? See Selling in Houston.
Put these questions to Alan.
Book a free consultation and ask him anything — no pressure, no pitch.