Short answerAsk how they would price your home or find the right one, how they handle inspection and appraisal problems, what they charge and what that includes, how long the agreement lasts and how it ends, who you will actually work with, and which recent local sales they handled. Good answers are specific and in writing.
Questions for sellers to ask
| Question | What a useful answer includes |
|---|---|
| How would you price my home? | Recent nearby sales with adjustments for condition, size, and lot, not just an online estimate. |
| What will a buyer's inspector likely find? | Specific items for your home's age and systems, with a plan to fix, credit, price in, or disclose. |
| What exactly is included in your fee? | Photos, MLS entry, showings, offer review, negotiation, and closing coordination, listed out. |
| How do you handle buyer's agent compensation? | A clear explanation of your options, decided with you in writing. |
| How long is the listing agreement, and how can it end? | A specific term and the cancellation terms in the agreement itself. |
| Who answers my calls and runs my showings? | A named person and a normal response time. |
Questions for buyers to ask
- What does the buyer agreement cover, how long does it last, and what do you charge?
- How do you size up a house's condition before I write an offer?
- How do you decide what to offer and which contingencies to keep?
- How do you handle a low appraisal or a long inspection report?
- Will you also represent the seller on any house I see? If so, how does limited agency work?
Questions to ask anyone
- Is your license active? You can check any Indiana license on the state's license lookup.
- Which brokerage are you with, and who is your managing broker?
- Can I read the agreement before our meeting?
What to get in writing
The fee, the term, how the agreement ends, how buyer's agent compensation is handled, and what services are included. Indiana agency relationships and office policies on limited agency are set out in writing, so ask to see them.
Frequently asked questions
How many agents should I interview?
Two or three is common. Comparing answers to the same questions shows you quickly who knows your market and who is guessing.
Should I hire the agent who suggests the highest price?
Not on that alone. Ask which sales support the number. A price the sales do not support often leads to price cuts later.
Can I check a real estate license in Indiana?
Yes. The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency has a public license search.
Keep reading
Want to know what a buyer's inspector may find before they do?
Book a free pre listing condition walk. I walk the house with you, point out what inspectors and FHA, VA, and USDA appraisers tend to flag, and give you planning ranges so you can decide what to fix, credit, price in, or disclose.
Book a condition walkOr call or text (812) 525-5489, or email [email protected].
The condition walk is a REALTOR® and contractor evaluation, not a home inspection, and it does not replace one. If you have already signed a listing agreement with another agent, please take these questions to your agent.
Looking at a house and not sure what you are getting into?
Ask for a free Before You Offer review. Send me the listing. I look over the photos, the seller's disclosure, and recent sales, then flag likely condition issues and planning cost ranges before you write an offer.
Request a Before You Offer reviewOr call or text (812) 525-5489, or email [email protected].
The Before You Offer review is a REALTOR® and contractor review of the listing, not a home inspection. It is for buyers who are not already working with an agent. If you have an agent, please bring these questions to your agent.
Sources
- Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, license search
- Indiana Code 25-34.1-10, Real Estate Agency Relationships
Written by John Long, REALTOR®, 1 Percent Lists Indiana Real Estate. Working contractor who has priced hundreds of home inspection repair requests. Former labor relations negotiator for a major manufacturer and U.S. Coast Guard veteran.
John Long, REALTOR® · 1 Percent Lists Indiana Real Estate · (812) 525-5489 · yourpropertynegotiator.com
This page is general information, not a substitute for a professional home inspection, and not legal, tax, insurance, or lending advice. Ask a real estate attorney about contracts and disclosure, a CPA about taxes, your lender about loan rules, and a licensed inspector or tradesperson about your house. Nothing here guarantees a sale price, net proceeds, repair cost, payment, timeline, appraisal, inspection result, or loan approval. Cost figures are planning estimates, not bids. I own Wardmark Property Operations LLC, a contracting company. You are always free to use any contractor you choose.