10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Realtor (And Why We Hope You Ask Us)

By Debbie Huscher, Team Leader | The Huscher Team at REAL

Selling your home is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make. And choosing the right Realtor can make a significant difference in both your experience and your bottom line.

After more than 23 years helping homeowners throughout Middlesex County and Central Connecticut, I've learned something: The best clients aren't necessarily the ones who have all the answers. They're the ones who ask great questions.

And we welcome those questions!

In fact, we encourage homeowners to interview more than one Realtor. Compare their experience, ask about their marketing strategies, understand how they determine pricing, and most importantly, make sure you feel comfortable with the people who will be guiding you through the process.

Because selling a home isn't just about putting a sign in the yard, taking some photos, and hoping for the best.

It's about strategy, preparation, marketing, negotiation, communication, and knowing how to navigate the unexpected.

Whether you're selling a home in Durham, Middletown, Middlefield, Haddam, Cromwell, or another Connecticut community, here are 10 questions we believe every homeowner should ask before hiring a Realtor.

1. How Will You Determine the Right Asking Price for My Home?

One of the first things we tell sellers is that your asking price is an invitation. It's what gets buyers interested enough to walk through the door.

Pricing a home isn't about picking the highest number and hoping someone will pay it. It's about understanding the market, evaluating the competition, and creating a strategy that attracts the right buyers.

At The Huscher Team, we start with the objective side of pricing. We analyze comparable sales, current listings, local market conditions, and appraisal-based methodologies that help us understand how a property is likely to be valued.

But here's where it gets interesting.

Real estate isn't entirely objective.

Buyers don't make decisions based solely on square footage, bedrooms, and comparable sales. There's an emotional component. The setting, layout, and way a home feels can all influence what a buyer is willing to pay.

That's why we discuss different pricing strategies with our sellers, including the potential benefits and risks of each approach.

Our job isn't simply to tell you what your home is worth. It's to help you understand how buyers are likely to respond so we can position your home for the strongest possible outcome.

2. What Should I Fix Before Selling, and What Can I Leave Alone?

One of the biggest misconceptions about selling a home is that you need to spend a lot of money getting it ready for the market.

That's simply not always true.

When we first meet with sellers, we don't walk in with a checklist of everything they need to change.

We start by listening.

What are you willing to do? What do you want to do? What's realistic for your budget, timeline, and personal circumstances?

Sometimes sellers are excited to tackle a few projects. Other times, they're overwhelmed, dealing with a difficult life transition, or simply don't have the financial or emotional energy to take on repairs and renovations.

And that's okay. There's more than one way to successfully sell a home.

Next, we look at the competition. What other homes are buyers considering? How does your property compare? What are buyers expecting in today's Connecticut real estate market?

From there, we evaluate potential improvements based on return on investment.

Just because you can make an improvement doesn't mean you should.

Sometimes a little preparation can make a meaningful difference. Other times, selling the home as-is is the smartest decision.

The right strategy isn't necessarily about doing more. It's about doing what makes sense for you.

3. What's Your Marketing Strategy for My Home?

Here's something we believe strongly: No two homes are exactly alike, so why would we market them exactly the same way?

Before I became a Realtor, I worked in brand management and marketing. That experience shaped how I approach selling real estate today.

At The Huscher Team, our marketing strategy has three important layers.

Traditional Marketing: Professional photography, compelling property descriptions, MLS exposure, and the foundational marketing that ensures your home is presented professionally.

Digital Marketing: Real estate websites, online platforms, and targeted digital advertising designed to reach potential buyers beyond those already searching in your immediate area.

Social Media Marketing: This is where we can get especially creative. Instead of telling the same story over and over, we highlight different aspects of a property to appeal to different buyers.

For example, a home with a first-floor primary suite might appeal to someone looking to age in place, while its additional living space could attract a multigenerational household.

A waterfront home may appeal to someone looking for a weekend escape, while another buyer sees the opportunity for year-round lake living.

Same property. Different buyer motivations.

Great marketing isn't just about getting more eyes on your home. It's about getting the right eyes on it.

4. How Will You Keep Me Informed Throughout the Selling Process?

One of the biggest frustrations we hear from homeowners is that they list their home and then wonder what's happening.

Are buyers looking at it? Is the marketing working? What are people saying?

You should never have to wonder what's happening with one of your largest financial assets.

At The Huscher Team, we provide weekly activity reports that go beyond simply counting showings.

We look at how many people are viewing your property online, where that traffic is coming from, and which towns are generating interest.

We also share feedback from showings and discuss what's happening in the surrounding market.

Are competing homes selling? Are new listings changing the landscape? Are buyers responding differently than we anticipated?

And here's something important: Tanya and I personally handle these conversations with our sellers.

We believe communication should be proactive, transparent, and honest, even when the news isn't what we hoped for.

5. What Happens if My Home Isn't Getting Showings or Offers?

Not every slow listing is a pricing problem. But every slow listing deserves a closer look.

When a home isn't getting the activity we anticipated, we don't immediately jump to recommending a price reduction.

First, we look at what's happening in the market.

Are buyers pulling back because of interest rates or national economic uncertainty? Are homes throughout the area experiencing slower activity? Are we seeing more price reductions?

Then we look specifically at your home.

Are buyers viewing it online but not scheduling showings? Are they touring the property but not making offers? What feedback are we hearing from buyers and their agents?

Those are very different situations, and they may call for different solutions.

Sometimes that means revisiting our pricing strategy. Other times, it may mean adjusting how we're positioning or marketing the property.

The important thing is that we're making decisions based on information, not frustration.

6. How Will You Help Me Evaluate Offers and Get to Closing?

The highest offer isn't always the best offer.

When we receive an offer, we look at the entire package, not just the purchase price.

What type of financing is the buyer using? What contingencies are included? Are there inspection or appraisal considerations? What are the proposed closing dates?

When we receive multiple offers, I prepare a detailed comparison spreadsheet so our sellers can see the differences side by side.

But here's something equally important: Not every seller has the same priorities or tolerance for risk.

Some sellers prefer a more conservative approach. They want confidence that the transaction will close with as few surprises as possible.

Others are comfortable accepting more risk if it creates an opportunity for a higher sale price.

Neither approach is necessarily right or wrong.

Our job is to explain the options, identify potential risks, and help you understand the trade-offs so you can make the decision that's right for your circumstances.

And once we're under contract, our work is far from over. From inspections and appraisals to financing and closing coordination, we stay involved to help navigate issues before they become bigger problems.

A successful sale isn't just about the number on the contract. It's about getting you to the closing table on terms that work for you.

7. How Much Money Will I Actually Walk Away With After Selling My Home?

Here's a question we wish every seller would ask: "What am I actually going to walk away with?"

Because your sale price and the amount you take home are two very different numbers.

At The Huscher Team, we prepare a seller net sheet to help homeowners understand their estimated proceeds after expenses.

We walk through the costs involved, including real estate commissions, mortgage payoffs, closing expenses, and Connecticut conveyance taxes.

That last one often surprises sellers!

If you haven't sold a home in Connecticut in 15 or 20 years, you may not realize how much conveyance taxes can affect your bottom line. Connecticut has both state and municipal conveyance taxes, and the amount can vary depending on the sale price and municipality.

We believe sellers should have a clear picture of the numbers before making important decisions.

After all, it's not just what your home sells for. It's what you walk away with that matters.

8. Why Should I Choose You Over Another Realtor?

It's a fair question, and one we think every homeowner should ask.

There are many talented Realtors out there, so what makes The Huscher Team different?

We certainly have the experience, market knowledge, professional recognition, and track record to back up what we do. And we're proud of that.

But if you ask us what truly sets us apart, our answer is pretty simple.

We genuinely care about the people we work with.

Yes, real estate is our profession, and we take the business side of it very seriously. But our motivation has never been simply about earning a commission.

It's about helping people make important decisions during some of life's biggest transitions.

Sometimes that means helping a family prepare a home for sale. Sometimes it's guiding someone through downsizing after decades in the same house. Other times, it's helping a family navigate an estate sale during an already emotional time.

And sometimes, after discussing all the options, the best decision may be not to sell right now.

You'll never feel pressured by us to make a decision that isn't right for you.

We bring the experience, strategy, and professional guidance. You make the decisions that are right for your life.

Because at the end of the day, we're not just helping you sell a house. We're helping you navigate whatever comes next.

9. How Well Do You Really Know My Town and Neighborhood?

When I first got into real estate more than 23 years ago, I had the same mindset as many new agents.

"I can sell real estate anywhere!"

And technically, I can. I'm licensed in Connecticut, so I can sell homes throughout the state.

But here's what I've learned over the years: Just because you can sell a home somewhere doesn't mean you're the best person to sell it.

Connecticut has 169 towns. If I've never spent time in a particular community, how can I honestly claim to know what makes it special?

How can I confidently explain its neighborhoods, understand the nuances of its housing market, or answer the questions buyers are going to ask?

That's why we've focused our business on Middlesex County and the surrounding communities.

We know the towns, the neighborhoods, the housing styles, and the local market dynamics. We've built relationships and connections throughout these communities, and that knowledge matters.

It helps us evaluate property values more accurately, understand how a home compares to its competition, and identify the features that will appeal to buyers.

It also makes us a better resource for buyers who may be relocating to the area.

Local expertise isn't just knowing what homes sold for. It's understanding why buyers choose one home, neighborhood, or town over another.

10. How Does Realtor Compensation Work, and What Am I Paying For?

It's an important question, and one every seller should feel comfortable asking.

At The Huscher Team, we charge a fee for our professional services, which includes the expertise, marketing, guidance, negotiation, and support we provide throughout the selling process.

We also discuss the options surrounding buyer-agent compensation and how different approaches may fit into your overall selling strategy.

Our goal is to position your property to attract the strongest possible offers and help you achieve the best outcome.

Real estate compensation is negotiable, and we'll explain the options so you can make an informed decision.

And here's something important: Our professional fee is paid at closing, not upfront.

Ultimately, the conversation isn't just about what it costs to sell your home. It's about the value of having experienced professionals working on your behalf.

The Right Realtor Should Make You Feel Confident, Not Pressured

Here's what we hope you take away from these 10 questions.

The best Realtor for you isn't necessarily the one who promises the highest price or charges the lowest fee.

It's the one who listens, understands your goals, provides honest guidance, and has the experience and strategy to help you get where you want to go.

At The Huscher Team, we believe every home and every homeowner deserves a thoughtful, personalized approach.

Whether you're selling a longtime family home in Durham, downsizing in Middletown, handling an estate in Haddam, or preparing for your next chapter somewhere else, we're here to help you explore your options.

Thinking about selling? Let's have a conversation. No pressure. No obligation. Just honest advice about your home, your options, and what makes sense for you.

Debbie Huscher & Tanya Bottaro

The Huscher Team at REAL

Life Moves Deserve Local Expertise.

www.ctwelcomehome.com