Choosing a listing agent is arguably a bigger decision than choosing when to sell. Having the right agent can be the difference between a home that sells fast and for the best price, and one that sits on the market and requires the sellers to reduce the price. Before you sign a listing agreement, make sure to ask these questions.

Ask About Their Track Record

• How many homes have you personally closed in my neighborhood in the last 12 months?
• What is your average list-to-sale price ratio, and how does that compare to the local average?
• Can you show me recent examples of homes similar to mine that you have sold?

A high-volume, hyper-local agent has real-time pricing intelligence that a part-time or out-of-area agent simply does not have. Whissel Beer Group is one of the highest-volume residential real estate teams in San Diego County, which means our agents are actively pricing and closing homes across San Diego's neighborhoods on an ongoing basis.

Ask About the Marketing Plan

• What specifically will you do the first week my home is on the market?
• How many marketing channels are actually being used, beyond the MLS and a yard sign?
• Will my home be shown to your buyer network or database before it hits the open market?

Most agents follow what the industry calls the Three P's: put a sign in the yard, press enter on the MLS, and pray. Whissel Beer Group's Seven Day Listing Launch™ is a federally trademarked, seven-channel marketing system that includes an Insider Preview Open House to a database of prospective buyers before the public MLS launch, direct outreach to other agents, and a Grand Opening Strategy designed to create visible buyer competition.

Ask About Pricing Strategy

• How did you arrive at this list price, and can I see the comps you used?
• What is your strategy if the home does not receive an offer in the first two weeks?
• Homes sold within the first three weeks tend to net more than homes that sit and require reductions. What is your plan to avoid that?

Ask About Communication and Support

• Who will I actually be in contact with during the listing, and how often will I hear from you?
• Is there a live team available if I have a question outside normal business hours?
• What happens to the transaction if you are unavailable at a key moment?

Whissel Beer Group operates on the principle that the only thing worse than a negative update is no update at all. Our Client Concierge Team provides live phone coverage seven days a week, backed by dedicated Listing Management and Transaction Management departments so no single point of failure holds up your sale.

Ask About Flexibility and Risk

• If I am not happy with the representation, can I cancel the listing agreement?
• Are there any hidden fees or costs I should know about upfront?
• What guarantees, if any, do you offer sellers?

Whissel Beer Group's Easy Exit Guarantee allows sellers to cancel their listing at any time without penalty, so you are never locked into representation that is not working for you.

Red Flags to Watch For

• An agent who cannot produce recent comparable sales to support their pricing recommendation.
• A marketing plan that amounts to little more than an MLS listing and a sign.
• Reluctance to explain their commission structure or communication process in plain terms.

Ready to Find Out What Your Home Is Worth?

Whissel Beer Group has closed more residential transactions than any other team in San Diego County history, giving our agents direct, current insight into what homes like yours are actually selling for right now. 

Call or text 619.639.4012, or use the contact form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it normal to interview more than one agent?

Yes. Most sellers benefit from comparing at least two or three agents' marketing plans and pricing strategies before choosing who will represent one of their largest financial assets.

Should I choose the agent who suggests the highest list price?

Not automatically. An unrealistically high price can lead to a stale listing and eventual price cuts. Ask any agent to walk you through the comps and reasoning behind their number.

What if I sign and then want to switch agents?

This depends on the terms of your specific listing agreement. Ask upfront whether the agent offers a cancellation option, such as Whissel Beer Group's Easy Exit Guarantee, before you sign.