Key takeaways
- Ask how long the agent has worked your area and for recent nearby sales.
- Pricing should rest on homes that closed nearby.
- Ask who answers when you call and what the marketing includes.
- Get the fee and agreement terms in writing before you sign.
Hiring a real estate agent is one of the larger decisions in a home sale or purchase, and the agent you choose will shape how it goes. Whether you are in Clinton, Oak Ridge, Powell, Norris or the surrounding counties, these are six questions worth asking anyone you interview, including us.
1. How long have you worked this area?
Anderson County has its own streets, school zones, flood areas and price ranges, and the best value is often a block away from the worst. An agent who has worked here a long time can tell you the difference. Ask for recent sales near your address or the home you want to buy.
2. How will you price my home, or judge this price?
You want an answer built on homes that closed nearby, not on a number that sounds good. Ask to see the sales behind it. If a price is higher than the sales support, ask why.
3. Who answers when I call?
Good timing wins homes. Ask how quickly the agent returns calls and texts, who you will talk to day to day, and what happens if the agent is out of town.
4. What does your marketing actually include?
For a seller, ask about photography, video, online listings, signs and open houses. For a buyer, ask how you will hear about a new listing and how fast you can see it.
5. How do you handle the hard parts?
Inspection repairs, appraisal questions and a buyer who changes their mind all happen. Ask for a recent example and how it was resolved.
6. What will this cost, and what do I sign?
Ask for the agent’s fee and the terms of any agreement in writing before you sign, including how long it lasts and how to end it.
Who We Are
We are Missy and Blythe Sanders, a husband-and-wife team in Clinton, Tennessee. We have been in the real estate industry since 1998, over 25 years, including title and escrow work. We help buyers and sellers in Anderson, Campbell, Scott, Morgan and Roane counties with homes, land, farms, Norris Lake waterfront and new construction. We live here, we worship here and we are family-owned, not a franchise. Ask us all six questions. We would rather you choose us knowing the answers.
Call Missy and Blythe Sanders at 865-564-7966 or visit sandersproperty.com.
Common questions
What should I ask a real estate agent before hiring them?
Ask how long they have worked the area, how they price a home, who answers your calls, what their marketing includes, how they handle hard parts, and what it will cost.
How do I know if an agent knows Anderson County?
Ask for recent sales near your address or the home you want to buy. An agent who has worked here a long time can tell you the difference a block can make.
Should I get the agent agreement in writing?
Yes. Ask for the fee and the terms of any agreement in writing before you sign, including how long it lasts and how to end it.