If you’ve started casually Googling “best realtor near me” at 11pm while your house is still not on the market, friend, I see you. 💕
Choosing a listing agent feels like a big decision because it is one. This is likely one of the biggest financial transactions of your life, and the person you hire is going to shape how smooth (or how stressful) the next few months feel.
So let’s talk about it. Not in a “hire me because I’m the best” kind of way. In a “here’s what actually matters” kind of way.
It’s Not About Who You’ve Heard Of the Most
Here’s a truth moment for you: the agent with the most yard signs in your neighborhood isn’t automatically the right one for your home.
Familiarity feels safe. I get it. But the agent whose sign you see everywhere might have 40 listings running at once, which means less time, less attention, and less of that personal touch on yours.
What actually matters is this: does this person have a plan for YOUR home, in THIS market, right now?
Ask About Their Marketing. Then Ask Again.
This is the one I’ll die on a hill for. If you’re paying a commission, you deserve real marketing in return.
Not iPhone photos snapped on a Tuesday afternoon. Not a sign in the yard and a prayer.
When you’re choosing a listing agent, ask specifically:
- Do they provide professional photography?
- Do they offer videography, not just stills?
- What does their social media and email marketing actually look like?
- Where does your listing show up beyond the MLS?
If the answer is vague, that’s information too.
Open Houses Are Not the Litmus Test
Let’s be real for a second. A lot of agents will tell you open houses are how your home gets sold. In my experience? They’re mostly there for two other reasons, and neither one is really about your house.
The first is what I already mentioned. Open houses make sellers feel like something is happening. There’s traffic through the door, there’s activity, and it feels productive even when it isn’t.
The second reason doesn’t get said out loud very often, but it’s honest. Open houses are a lead generation tool for agents. Not every person who walks through is there for your home specifically, some are buyers who don’t have an agent yet, and hosting the open house gives the listing agent a chance to pick up a new client. That’s a completely fair business strategy. It’s just not really a strategy for selling your house.
And statistically, only about 1% of homes actually sell because of an open house. That’s not impossible, someone’s home is that 1%, but there are plenty of other marketing methods that perform far better.
Four hours of hosting on a Sunday that draws two groups (or nobody) is four hours that could’ve gone toward targeted marketing that actually reaches serious buyers.
If an agent’s whole strategy leans on open houses, ask what else is in the plan.
How Do They Communicate?
This is the part people underestimate until they’re three weeks into a listing wondering what’s happening.
Before you sign with anyone, ask:
- Will you hear from them proactively, or only when you reach out first?
- Do they put things in writing, or is it all verbal and easy to forget?
- What happens when an issue comes up? Do they bring you a problem, or a problem with a solution already attached?
A good listing agent should feel like a knowledgeable friend keeping you in the loop, not someone you have to chase down.
Do They Actually Listen to What You Need?
Every seller’s situation is different. Maybe you’re moving with young kids and a dog and need showings coordinated around naptime. Maybe you’re selling mom’s house and this is emotional in a way that has nothing to do with square footage.
A listing agent who does a real seller consult upfront, one that talks through your specific situation, your timeline, and what “success” looks like for YOU, is going to serve you a whole lot better than one who just wants the sign in the yard.
I bring my background as a licensed social worker into this part of the job every day. Realtors joke about being part therapist. I actually am one, and it changes how I show up for sellers navigating something big.
A Few Questions Worth Asking Any Agent You’re Considering
- How many homes have you sold in the Chippewa Valley?
- What’s your marketing plan for a home like mine?
- How will you communicate with me, and how often?
- What’s your commission, and what’s included in it?
- Can I see examples of your past listing photos and videos?
Their answers will tell you a lot more than their sign count ever could.
The Bottom Line
Choosing a listing agent isn’t about picking the biggest name. It’s about finding someone who will treat your home, and you, like more than a transaction.
Don’t worry, the right fit is out there. And when you find them? You shouldn’t just feel confident in their marketing plan. You should feel like you’ve got someone in your corner.
Cheers to finding the right person for the job. 🌸