Selling Your Home Made Easy Series—Week 1  

Selling your home doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right plan and person in your corner, it can be exciting, empowering, and much easier than you might think. In this series, Selling Your Home Made Easy, is your guide to navigating the process from the moment you start interviewing brokers all the way through closing day. And the first of these steps is…. 

Finding the Right Broker 

This is the most important move you’ll make. A great broker helps you sell your home for top dollar, in the shortest time possible, while also making the process feel smooth and supported from start to finish. This first step doesn’t come without little steps either! 

Here’s what to look for when choosing your listing broker: 

1. Comes recommended by people you trust 

Ask around. Friends, family, coworkers; they’ll give you the real scoop. Did they feel taken care of? Would they work with that person again? That’s a huge indicator. And once you have a few names, do a little online digging. Check out websites, blog posts, Instagram feeds. Is this someone who’s passionate about selling homes? Do they seem organized, informed, and experienced? 

You don’t need to hire the first broker you meet. Chat with a few and find someone who feels like the right fit. Once you’ve chosen, you’ll sign a listing contract. Most last between three to six months, but it could be longer depending on the market and your price point. 

2. Understands your home and your neighborhood 

Not all brokers are created equal, and your home deserves someone who truly understands the kind of property you’re selling and the local market. A great broker in Capitol Hill might not be the right one for a house in West Seattle. Understanding niches and locale is immensely important. 

Find someone who regularly lists homes like yours in your specific area. They’ll already know who your likely buyer is, how to price for your micro-market, and how to position your home to stand out. 

3. Works well with other brokers 

This one’s BIG. You want someone who has great relationships with other agents; especially buyer brokers. A connected agent can start talking about your home the second it hits the MLS. Those early conversations help generate buzz and may even result in showings well before your first open house. 

Make sure they hold broker previews and communicate well with the real estate community. Bonus points if they belong to a top broker network that shares non-MLS intel behind the scenes. 

4. Takes time to learn your goals 

You’re not just selling a house. You’re moving toward a new chapter in life. Whether that’s relocating, upsizing, downsizing, or just letting go of a long-time home, your broker should understand the “why” behind your move. 

Do you have a timeline? Do you need to hit a certain price? What story can we tell about your home that will connect with the right buyer? These are all prime questions that a broker will need to know. 

When they know your goals, they can build a strategy that’s tailored to you, not just plug your house into a one-size-fits-all system. 

5. Brings a smart, specific marketing plan 

Ask for details. A great broker will tell you exactly how they plan to market your home. Not just “we’ll do an open house” but how they’ll get serious, ready-to-write-an-offer buyers through your door. 

Ask how they use social media. Ask if they do targeted online advertising. Ask if they think open houses are effective for your home and why. You’re looking for intention and experience, not just a checklist. 

6. Offers honest advice to help your home shine 

A great broker will tell you what needs to be done, and then help you get it done. Whether it’s staging, touch-up paint, landscaping, or deep cleaning, they’ll have trusted professionals on call. They’ll help you weigh the cost versus value of each change and guide you toward smart updates that will actually increase your sale price. 

7. Communicates often and clearly 

You should never feel like you’re in the dark. Your broker should be easy to reach and quick to respond. They should update you regularly and let you know what’s going on with showings, feedback, and the market. 

And if buyers are touring your home and not moving forward, you deserve to know why. A great broker uses that feedback to make strategic changes and keep momentum going. 

8. Is a strong, skilled negotiator 

This is where experience really shows up. Your broker should know how to navigate multiple offers, negotiate confidently on your behalf, and get you the best possible terms without pushing buyers away, and know when to reign it in before negotiations go sour. 

Ask how they’ve handled past negotiations. How many homes have they sold in the past year? How close were those sales to the original list price? Knowing they can handle your price point and are knowledgeable about the selling points of various property is priceless. 

9. Makes you feel at ease 

This matters more than you might think. You’ll be spending a lot of time with your broker, and you want someone you trust, someone you’re comfortable being honest with, and someone who knows how to keep things calm when the process gets intense. 

The right broker will make a stressful process feel manageable. They’ll answer your questions without judgment, listen when you need to vent, and probably make you laugh a few times too. The best broker will make it so you feel like you can’t even worry at all. 

10. Understands that real estate is more than a transaction 

A home sale is a financial decision, but it’s also deeply personal. Your broker should recognize both. A great broker sees your home as part of a larger wealth-building plan or the next stage of your life. 

11. Doesn’t disappear after closing 

A great broker doesn’t say goodbye at the end of the deal. They stick with you. They check in. They offer help when you need it. They’re your go-to resource for anything real estate-related, whether you’re buying again soon or not for another ten years. 

And if you’re buying and selling at the same time? Ask if they offer any commission incentives for doing both. Loyalty should go both ways. 

Coming up next: 

Is your home really ready to sell? We’ll dig into how to determine your home’s “sale-ability factor” and what small changes can make a big difference in today’s market.