A lot of our business comes from referrals — people we haven't worked with before, who are introduced to us through someone who has. When we sit down with those sellers for the first time, they often don't know exactly what to ask. So let me give you three questions that will tell you a lot about any listing agent you're considering.

1. "What is your list-to-sale price ratio?"

This metric tells you how close your agent's listings ultimately sell relative to the list price. A ratio at or above 100% means they're regularly getting full price or over. A ratio significantly below 100% suggests the listings are being overpriced, sitting on market, and then chasing the price down.

Ask them for their ratio over the past 12 months, and ask how it compares to the King County market average. Both numbers matter — the comparison tells you whether they're outperforming or just moving with the market.

2. "What is your average days on market versus the market average?"

Speed matters. A home that sits longer than comparable properties loses perceived value — buyers start wondering what's wrong with it. An agent who consistently sells faster than the market average is doing something right: better pricing, better presentation, better marketing, or all three.

Ask for their number. Ask for the market benchmark. If they can't produce both, that's telling.

3. "What is your sales volume?"

This isn't just about bragging rights. Volume tells you how much repetition an agent has in the sales process, how well they know the other active brokers in the market, and how much access they have when it matters — off-market opportunities, relationships with cooperating agents, knowledge of what's actually happening in real time.

You don't necessarily need the highest-volume agent in the county. But you want someone who is active and current in your specific market.

These three questions — list-to-sale ratio, days on market, and annual volume — will give you a clear and honest picture of any listing agent's track record. They're the same metrics we track ourselves and are happy to share when we sit down with prospective sellers.

If you're thinking about listing in Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, or Mercer Island, we'd welcome the conversation.

Watch the original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97d91I9Iwhc