Questions to Ask Before Hiring a REALTOR® to Sell Your Amarillo Home

Selling your home is a big decision.

Who you hire to help you sell it matters.

A listing agent does more than put your home on the MLS and wait for a buyer. The right REALTOR® should help you understand your home’s value, prepare it for market, create a strong pricing strategy, market it well, negotiate on your behalf, communicate clearly, and help guide you all the way to closing.

Before you sign a listing agreement, it is worth asking a few important questions.

These questions can help you understand how an agent works, what kind of experience they have, and whether their strategy is the right fit for your home and your goals.

1. How Many Homes Have You Sold?

Experience matters.

That does not mean newer agents cannot do a good job, but selling a home involves a lot of moving parts. Pricing, marketing, showings, buyer feedback, inspections, appraisals, repairs, negotiations, contract deadlines, title issues, and closing details all matter.

An agent who has handled many transactions has likely seen more situations and knows how to navigate problems before they become bigger issues.

When asking this question, you are not just looking for a number. You are listening for confidence, clarity, and whether the agent can explain how their experience benefits you as a seller.

A good follow-up question is:

What kinds of homes do you sell most often?

Selling a residential home in Amarillo is different from selling commercial property, rentals, land, luxury homes, mobile homes on land, or rural acreage. The more familiar the agent is with your type of property, the better.

2. How Will You Price My Home?

Pricing is one of the most important parts of selling.

A good agent should not simply tell you what you want to hear. They should be able to explain how they arrived at the suggested price and show you the data behind it.

Ask how they will evaluate:

• Recent comparable sales
• Active competition
• Pending homes
• Condition
• Updates
• Layout
• Location
• Lot size
• Buyer demand
• Days on market
• Current market trends

The right price is not always the highest price.

Overpricing can cause a home to sit, lose momentum, and eventually require price reductions. Underpricing can leave money on the table. The goal is to position your home correctly so buyers take it seriously and you have the best chance of getting strong activity early.

3. What Is Your Marketing Plan?

Marketing should be more than taking a few photos and putting the home online.

Before hiring a REALTOR®, ask exactly what they will do to market your home.

A strong listing strategy may include:

• Professional photography
• Strong listing description
• MLS exposure
• Social media marketing
• Paid advertising when appropriate
• Video or reels
• Email marketing
• Buyer agent outreach
• Online syndication
• Showing strategy
• Clear follow-up after activity

The goal is to get your home in front of the right buyers, not just “listed.”

Buyers usually see your home online before they ever schedule a showing. That means photos, pricing, description, and overall presentation matter.

4. What Do You Recommend I Do Before Listing?

Not every home needs major updates before selling.

In fact, some projects are not worth doing.

A good listing agent should be able to walk through your home and help you decide what actually matters before going live.

That may include cleaning, decluttering, touch-up paint, small repairs, yard work, lighting, staging adjustments, or removing personal items.

The goal is not to make your home perfect. The goal is to help it show as well as possible for the price point and condition.

Ask the agent:

What would you recommend I do before photos, and what would you not spend money on?

This can help you avoid wasting time and money on updates that may not bring a strong return.

5. How Do You Communicate With Sellers?

Communication can make or break the selling experience.

Before hiring an agent, ask how often you can expect updates and what those updates will include.

You may want to know:

• How showing feedback is handled
• How often you will receive activity updates
• Whether you will be contacted by text, call, or email
• How quickly they typically respond
• Who you will communicate with during the process
• What happens if activity is slow
• How offer updates will be handled

Selling a home is stressful enough without wondering what is going on.

You should know what to expect before the sign goes in the yard.

6. How Will You Handle Showings?

Showings are one of the most important parts of the selling process.

Ask how showings will be scheduled, how much notice you can expect, and what you need to do before each appointment.

If you have kids, pets, work-from-home needs, or a difficult schedule, this conversation matters.

A good agent should help you create a showing plan that makes sense while still giving buyers reasonable access.

Homes that are difficult to show can lose opportunities. At the same time, sellers need clear expectations and boundaries so the process does not feel chaotic.

7. What Happens If My Home Does Not Get Showings or Offers?

This is an important question.

No seller wants to think about slow activity, but you should know how your agent handles it.

Ask what they watch for after the home goes live.

For example:

• Are buyers clicking but not scheduling?
• Are buyers showing but not making offers?
• Is feedback pointing to price?
• Is feedback pointing to condition?
• Is there too much competition?
• Are photos or marketing missing the mark?
• Has the market shifted?
• Are there buyer objections that need to be addressed?

A good agent should not panic after a few days, but they also should not ignore the data.

The first few weeks on market can tell you a lot.

8. How Do You Negotiate Offers?

Getting an offer is exciting, but the highest price is not always the strongest offer.

Before hiring a REALTOR®, ask how they help sellers compare offers.

Important offer terms may include:

• Price
• Financing type
• Down payment
• Earnest money
• Option period
• Closing date
• Appraisal terms
• Repair expectations
• Buyer qualifications
• Contingencies
• Possession needs

A strong agent should help you understand the full offer, not just the number at the top.

Sometimes a slightly lower offer with better terms may be stronger than a higher offer with more risk.

9. How Do You Handle Inspection and Repair Negotiations?

The inspection period is one of the most common places where deals get stressful.

Buyers may ask for repairs, credits, price reductions, or other concessions. Some requests may be reasonable. Others may not be.

Ask the agent how they handle repair negotiations and how they help protect your interests while keeping the deal moving forward.

You want someone who can stay calm, explain your options, and help you make smart decisions.

The goal is not to automatically say yes to everything.

The goal is to negotiate strategically based on the property, the contract, the buyer, and the overall situation.

10. What Makes Your Process Different?

This is a simple question, but it can tell you a lot.

Every agent should be able to explain how they work and what sellers can expect from them.

Listen for specifics.

Do they talk about pricing strategy? Marketing? Communication? Negotiation? Experience? Local knowledge? Problem-solving? Preparation?

Or do they give a vague answer?

You are hiring someone to represent one of your largest assets. It is okay to ask what they bring to the table.

11. Do You Have Experience With My Situation?

Not every sale is the same.

Some sellers are moving out of state. Some are selling after already moving. Some are selling a home they inherited. Some are going through divorce. Some are selling land, mobile homes on land, or properties that need work. Some need to sell and buy at the same time.

If your situation has extra layers, ask the agent if they have handled something similar.

Experience with your specific situation can make the process smoother and help avoid surprises.

12. What Should I Expect From Start to Finish?

Before listing, ask the agent to walk you through the full process.

You should have a clear understanding of what happens before the home goes live, while it is active, once an offer comes in, during the contract period, and leading up to closing.

A good agent should be able to explain:

• Listing preparation
• Pricing
• Photos
• Marketing
• Showings
• Feedback
• Offers
• Negotiations
• Inspections
• Appraisal
• Title
• Closing
• Moving timelines

You do not need to know every detail upfront, but you should feel like there is a plan.

Choosing the Right REALTOR® Matters

Selling your home is not just about putting a sign in the yard.

It is about strategy.

The right listing agent should help you make informed decisions, avoid unnecessary stress, and position your home well in the Amarillo market.

Before you hire someone, ask questions. Pay attention to how clearly they answer. Notice whether they are honest with you, even when the answer may not be exactly what you hoped to hear.

A good REALTOR® should be willing to have real conversations about price, preparation, marketing, and expectations before you sign anything.

Thinking About Selling Your Amarillo Home?

If you are thinking about selling your home in Amarillo, Canyon, Bushland, or the surrounding Texas Panhandle, I would be happy to talk through your options.

Whether you are ready to list soon or just starting to gather information, I can help you understand your home’s value, what may need to happen before listing, and what strategy makes the most sense for your goals.

Selling your home is a big decision. Who you hire matters.

Let’s make sure you have a clear plan before you make your next move.

Haley Sutter, REALTOR®
Brokered by 2015 Real Estate
Serving Amarillo, Canyon, Bushland, and the surrounding Texas Panhandle