Arizona seller interview guide

5 questions to ask before listing your home.Better answers. Smarter decisions.

Before you choose a real estate agent, ask questions that reveal how they think about pricing, timing, total costs, marketing, and your alternatives. This guide shows you what a useful answer should include.

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Written and approved by Mike Kemper

The short answer

Questions to ask a Realtor® when selling a house

The most useful questions to ask a Realtor® when selling a house cover how the recommended price is supported by current data, what the plan is if the home does not sell, what costs may affect your proceeds, how the property will be marketed beyond the MLS, and whether renting could be a better fallback. The best answers should be specific to your home, understandable, and supported by a clear process.

Why these five

Five revealing questions beat twenty generic ones.

Years in the business and the number of homes sold can be useful context. They do not tell you how an agent will approach your decision. These five questions are designed to reveal the strategy behind the recommendation.

Ask to see the reasoning, not just the conclusion.
Look for options and tradeoffs, not pressure.
Make sure promises are connected to a real plan.

How will you price my home with data?

What a useful answer should explain

A thoughtful pricing recommendation should connect recent comparable sales, current competing listings, the home’s condition and features, neighborhood-level activity, and your timing goals. A comparative market analysis is the starting point. The agent should also explain the tradeoffs of testing a higher price, pricing near the strongest evidence, or adjusting the launch strategy.

Listen for

Specific comparable properties, important adjustments, current competition, a likely buyer search range, and a plan for reviewing early market response.

Be cautious when

The recommendation is based mostly on what you want to hear, an automated estimate, or a promise that a particular price is guaranteed.

Follow-up question: “Show me the three properties that most influenced your recommendation and explain why.”

Shebang perspective

Arizona’s West Valley is not one uniform market. Surprise, Peoria, Goodyear, Buckeye, Sun City, and nearby communities can have different buyer pools and competing inventory. The most useful analysis starts close to the property and expands only when needed.

What if my home does not sell right away?

What a useful answer should explain

The agent should describe how they will evaluate showing activity, online engagement, buyer feedback, price, presentation, competition, and changes in the market. You should know when the plan will be reviewed, what can be adjusted, and how decisions will be made with you.

Listen for

A defined review cadence, evidence the agent will monitor, practical options, and a willingness to discuss changing course when the facts change.

Be cautious when

The only backup plan is an automatic price reduction, or the agent cannot explain how marketing performance and buyer behavior will be evaluated.

Follow-up question: “What information will we review together during the first few weeks?”

Shebang perspective

Shebang Realty typically communicates with sellers weekly, or as often as the seller prefers. Listing-performance reports can be shared daily, weekly, or monthly so the conversation is based on actual activity rather than guesswork.

What will selling my home actually cost me?

What a useful answer should explain

Ask for a seller net estimate that separates the listing fee from other possible expenses. Depending on the property and contract, those may include escrow and title fees, mortgage payoff, prorated taxes, HOA-related charges, repairs, preparation, concessions, moving costs, and the cost of holding the home until closing.

Listen for

A written estimate, clearly labeled assumptions, a distinction between known and variable costs, and an explanation of when each cost is normally paid.

Be cautious when

The conversation focuses on one fee while ignoring the other items that may affect what you keep after closing.

Follow-up question: “Can you show me a realistic range for my estimated proceeds and identify which numbers may change?”

Shebang perspective

Shebang Realty’s full-service residential listing fee is paid at closing, with no upfront listing fee. Never pay more than $8,500 to sell your home, or 2% of the sales price, whichever is less. Escrow/Title Fees are separate. Review our Arizona seller-cost guide and savings calculator for a deeper breakdown.

What is your marketing plan beyond the MLS?

What a useful answer should explain

MLS exposure is important, but it should not be the whole marketing explanation. Ask who will create the photography and media, how buyers will explore the property online, where advertising may appear, how interested audiences may be re-engaged, and what performance information you will receive.

Listen for

A property-specific launch plan, professional visual assets, syndication, digital promotion, follow-up, and reporting that distinguishes activity from results.

Be cautious when

“It will be on all the websites” is the complete plan, or the agent cannot show what marketing deliverables are included.

Follow-up question: “Show me the marketing package and the report I will receive after launch.”

Shebang perspective

Your home is not simply listed. It is actively marketed. Every Shebang Realty resale listing receives a Matterport 3D tour and drone video unless the property is within a legally restricted no-fly zone. Our Homes.com partnership supports digital advertising and remarketing across participating platforms. Placement and performance vary. See our marketing in action.

What if renting makes more sense than selling?

What a useful answer should explain

A real estate decision should begin with your goals, not with the assumption that you must list. Ask whether the agent can help you compare likely sale proceeds with expected rent, management costs, vacancy, maintenance, your time horizon, and the responsibilities of becoming a landlord.

Listen for

A balanced discussion of selling, renting, and waiting, including the risks and responsibilities of each option.

Be cautious when

The agent dismisses alternatives without reviewing your goals, property, financial position, or tolerance for managing a rental.

Follow-up question: “What information would you need to compare selling with keeping this home as a rental?”

Shebang perspective

Because Shebang Realty handles both residential sales and property management, we can help owners examine more than one path. The right answer may be to sell, rent, or wait. The purpose of the conversation is to help you understand the tradeoffs.

Take this to the interview

Your five-question listing-agent scorecard

For each answer, score the agent from 1 to 5 for specificity, supporting evidence, clarity, and fit with your goals. Write down the follow-up they promised and who will be responsible for it.

Do not choose on personality alone.Choose the plan you understand and the team you trust to carry it out.

Agent interview worksheet

Rate each answer

1. Pricing strategy and evidence□ □ □ □ □

2. Plan if the home does not sell□ □ □ □ □

3. Complete cost explanation□ □ □ □ □

4. Marketing beyond the MLS□ □ □ □ □

5. Sell, rent, or wait analysis□ □ □ □ □

Notes: Who will be my primary contact? How often will we communicate? What is included in the agreement? What happens if I want to change course?

Continue your research

Useful next steps before you list

These resources help you move from interviewing an agent to understanding the numbers and the marketing plan.

Understand the selling costs

Review the expenses that may affect your estimated proceeds before closing.

Read the cost guide

See the marketing system

Explore how Shebang presents, advertises, and reports on resale listings.

See the marketing plan

Compare the listing model

Learn how full-service flat fee real estate works across Arizona’s West Valley.

Explore the seller program

Questions Arizona sellers ask

Listing-agent interview FAQs

What questions should I ask a Realtor® before selling my house?

Ask how the agent will support the price with data, what happens if the home does not sell, what costs may affect your proceeds, how the property will be marketed beyond the MLS, and whether renting could be a reasonable alternative. Also clarify who will communicate with you, how often, and what is included in the listing agreement.

How many real estate agents should I interview?

There is no required number. Interview enough agents to compare their strategy, communication style, marketing plan, service, and agreement terms confidently. Two or three thoughtful conversations often reveal meaningful differences, but the right number depends on how quickly you find a plan you understand and trust.

Should I choose the agent who recommends the highest listing price?

Not automatically. Ask every agent to explain the data and assumptions behind the recommendation. A higher suggested price is not more valuable unless it is supported by relevant comparable sales, current competition, the property’s condition, and a realistic strategy.

How long is Shebang Realty’s listing agreement?

Shebang Realty’s standard residential listing term is six months. The exact service and agreement terms are reviewed with the seller before signing.

Do I pay Shebang Realty’s listing fee upfront?

No. Shebang Realty’s residential listing fee is paid at closing, with no upfront listing fee.

How often will I receive updates about my listing?

Shebang Realty typically communicates weekly or as often as the seller prefers. Listing-performance reports can be shared daily, weekly, or monthly according to the seller’s needs.

How does Shebang Realty approach offers?

Michelle Kemper, Shebang Realty’s Designated Broker, negotiates listing offers. We treat each submitted offer as an opportunity to review the terms, discuss the seller’s priorities, and determine whether negotiation may create a workable path forward.

What if I decide I no longer want to sell?

Discuss cancellation before you sign any listing agreement. Shebang Realty permits a seller to cancel subject to a $500 charge intended to cover part of the marketing costs. The written agreement controls, so review the exact terms with Michelle Kemper before signing.

Your next step

Get the answers before you make the decision.

Start with the Sell Smarter Report, then schedule a no-pressure conversation when you are ready to apply the questions to your Arizona home.

Get the Sell Smarter Report

About this Arizona seller guide

Written from local sales and property-management experience

This guide is written and approved by Mike Kemper, with Michelle Kemper identified as Shebang Realty’s Designated Broker and brokerage leader.

Written by Mike Kemper

Co-Owner · REALTOR®

Mike Kemper is the co-owner of Shebang Realty and creates educational real estate content for Arizona homeowners, buyers, landlords, investors, and people relocating throughout the West Valley.

His work focuses on helping consumers understand their selling, renting, property-management, and marketing options before making a decision.

Learn more about Mike

Brokerage leadership: Michelle Kemper

Designated Broker · REALTOR®

Michelle Kemper has been licensed in Arizona since 2002 and serves as the Designated Broker and co-owner of Shebang Realty.

She provides designated-broker leadership for Shebang Realty’s operations, brokerage standards, and current service practices.

Learn more about Michelle

Last updated: September 4, 2026

Shebang Realty · 14886 W Valentine St, Surprise, AZ 85379 · 623-476-1695

Mike Kemper

Mike Kemper is the co-owner of Shebang Realty, serving homeowners throughout Surprise, the West Valley, and surrounding Arizona communities. Through the Sell Smarter approach, Mike helps buyers, sellers, investors, and landlords understand every available option before making one of life's biggest financial decisions. He specializes in flat fee listing services, property management, relocation, and homeowner education.

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