How To Hire The Right Agent When Selling Your Home

By John Salkowski

The JRS Realty Group, founded by high-producing Real Estate Broker & Author John Salkowski was built on the notion that the secret to achieving incredible goals and getting true results is to dominate real estate with a team approach.

Most people will tell you that the most important factor when selling your home is location. While location certainly matters, I’m here to tell you that the most crucial decision you will make is the agent you choose to represent you.

Let me share a personal experience that highlights this point.

Several months ago, I went on a listing appointment with a seller who was interviewing three different agents. During our meeting, I presented a pricing strategy, a comprehensive marketing plan, and a detailed explanation of how I would negotiate the sale of the home. After the appointment, I never received a call or an email from the seller. He chose another agent without any follow-up.

I later saw his property listed on the market. The price was higher than what I had advised, and the commission was lower. Based on what I heard from agents who showed the property, the listing agent had promised the seller a higher price than the home was actually worth. Unfortunately, the seller ended up losing over $55,000 from list to sold price. This would not have happened had he followed my guidance.

I share this with you not to be arrogant or condescending, but because I want to help you make better decisions. When you are preparing to sell your home, I encourage you to interview several agents. But when it comes to choosing the right one, here are the key factors you need to consider:

1. Ask how many homes they’ve sold. I highly encourage you to look at an agent’s track record. Ask how many homes they have sold throughout their career. This is a strong indicator of their experience because success leaves clues. The more homes an agent has sold, the more skilled they are at negotiating, which is a critical part of the process.

2. Clear marketing plan. If an agent cannot show you how they plan to market your home, that should be a red flag. When you interview with us, we provide a full breakdown of our marketing approach so you know exactly what to expect. Marketing is not optional—it is essential to getting your home in front of the right buyers and achieving the best possible result.

3. Communication frequency. An agent should never go more than a week without reaching out to you. In our practice, we stay in touch every few days. You should never feel in the dark during the selling process.

It’s also important to understand the state of the industry. In 2024, out of one million agents, 75% did not sell a single home. This means the market is filled with part-time agents. I do this full time and have been doing so for nearly 20 years. I cannot begin to count how many thousands of hours I have put into building this skillset.

After all, the right agent knows that the most important decision you will make in real estate is not about location. It is about the agent you hire. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. There is no cost and no obligation. You can call me at (610) 308-5893 or send an email to john@jrsrealtygroup.com. I’m here to help.