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4 Things Austin Home Sellers Should Ask Before Hiring a Real Estate Agent

By U.S. News & World Report

Selling your house in Austin, Texas, for the highest price involves more than a “for sale” sign and a signature. From marketing to pricing to educating, sellers need a knowledgeable, trustworthy real estate agent in their corner to help them make informed decisions. Asking the right questions can help you find an agent who best fits your needs — and who will help you quickly grab an excellent offer.

“There are three primary pillars — price, promotion and product — that must be aligned to have selling success. When you’re interviewing agents, ask questions that revolve around these pillars,” says Chris Watters, Realtor, broker and owner at Watters International Realty.

To help you find an agent you trust, U.S. News spoke with some of Austin’s top real estate agents, as listed by real estate technology company OpenHouse Realty (a U.S. News partner), to gather insight about what questions sellers should ask when interviewing potential agents.

[Read: 5 Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods in Austin to Buy a Home.]

How successful have you been with other sellers in my area?

Real estate is a local business, and your agent needs to know who’s buying in your area, alternate spots buyers are considering and competition in surrounding neighborhoods. Look for a full-time agent who has strong sales results in your neighborhood.

“Experience is important — not just by years, but by the number of transactions the agent’s been involved with in your particular area,” explains Matt Menard, Realtor and partner at Austin Real Estate Experts. “The stakes are high and you want someone with expertise.” Menard also advises asking if they’ve ever had complaints filed against them with the state real estate commission.

Successful agents know their sales numbers inside and out, and should be able to tell you what their sold price (as a percentage of the list price) is on average. It also should be clear how their stats, like the number of days their properties spend on the market, compare to the local board of Realtors’ average numbers.

Don’t get caught up on accolades or big-name brokerages. “Realtors love to tout awards, but what do they do for the consumer?” Watters says. “Many new agents work for big-box brands because they have no experience and want to leverage the name to look better than they are.”

What’s your recommended list price?

When it comes to price, sellers should ask about what comparable properties have sold for and where the market is going in their location and price range. Watters suggests finding an agent who sees the historical data, but who also has a laser focus on the absorption rate — or the amount of available inventory — for your price bracket.

[Read: 5 Ways to Sell Your House in Austin Fast.]

If an agent suggests your home is worth more than you think, he or she may be only telling you what you want to hear. Bounce the number off at least one other agent to see if the value sticks. On the other hand, if you think your property is worth more than the market suggests, expect the agent to have a conversation about setting realistic expectations that are backed up with facts from previous sales in your area.

Signing with an agent who has financial knowledge also helps once potential buyers get serious. Menard says the agent should be able to evaluate the risks, advantages and likelihood of success of each offer.

How are you going to market my home?

Marketing your home means professional photography and staging, syndicated listings and maximizing the number of online impressions to drive as much traffic as possible to the listing.

“If an agent doesn’t have a formal listing presentation, let them go,” Watters says. “They should sit down in a consultative manner to find out your goals and educate you about the marketplace. Then, they should be transparent by showing you the exact marketing plan they’ll utilize to sell the home.”

It’s critical to select an agent who has an online and offline marketing plan plus the financial resources to market your home on third-party sites like Zillow, Realtor.com and Trulia. For an additional fee, these sites will rank your listing at the top of the search results and won’t limit the amount of uploaded photos.

How are we going to communicate?

Ask potential real estate agents how often they expect to communicate with you during the selling process and make sure it matches your expectations.

“Good communication skills are helpful, and knowledge equals credibility,” Menard says. “People make the mistake of listing with the first person they meet, and if they sound experienced, have good results and a good plan, they’re probably fine. But if the agent doesn’t have you feeling like this is the person for you, talk to someone else.”

[Read: 5 Things to Know About Selling a Home in Austin.]

Watters says the most successful real estate agents he’s brought into the company come from a consultative background and listen 80 percent of the time while talking 20 percent. Finding a real estate agent who asks relevant questions and connects frequently with you is crucial.

Looking for a real estate agent in Austin? U.S. News’ Find an Agent tool can match you with the person who’s most qualified for the job.

More from U.S. News

A First-Time Buyer’s Guide to Austin, Texas

Find a Real Estate Agent in Austin

What’s It Like to Live in Austin?

4 Things Austin Home Sellers Should Ask Before Hiring a Real Estate Agent originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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