“Who should I hire?” is the right question, and it deserves a more useful answer than “someone with good reviews.” Here are the specific things worth asking any agent you’re considering for your Highland Haven sale, including me, and honest answers to each one so you can compare.
I’m Robbie English, REALTOR and Broker at Uncommon Highland Lakes Realty.
How many Highland Haven listings have you actually handled?
This town is small enough that general Highland Lakes experience isn’t the same as specific Highland Haven experience. I’ve worked this exact market for years, which matters because pricing here depends on comparable sales from the wider lake area, not just generic averages. Ask any agent this directly, not just how long they’ve had a license.
Will I be working with you, or with your team?
Some agents hand off day-to-day contact to an assistant once a listing goes live. I don’t. You’ll be talking to me from the first conversation through closing. There’s nothing wrong with a team-based model if that’s disclosed upfront, but you should know which one you’re getting before you sign anything.
How do you actually price a listing here?
Ask for specifics, not just “market analysis.” My answer: I pull comparable sales from Highland Haven and the surrounding Lake LBJ communities, then adjust for lake access, dock rights, and lot elevation, since those move value here more than square footage on its own. If an agent’s answer is vague or relies entirely on an automated valuation tool, that’s worth noting.
Thinking About Selling?
What happens if the first offer isn’t great?
Any agent can accept a good offer. What matters is how they advise you when the offers coming in are mediocre, or when none come in for a while. I’ll tell you honestly whether that’s a pricing issue, a marketing issue, or just a slow stretch, rather than pushing you toward a price drop by default.
How are you paid, and what does that include?
This is a fair question to ask any agent directly, and the answer should be clear before you sign a listing agreement, not discovered afterward. Ask what specifically is included in representation, marketing, negotiation, contract management through closing, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
Why I think these questions matter more than a sales pitch
Anyone can tell you they’re the right choice. Specific, comparable answers to direct questions tell you more than a general pitch ever will. If you’d like to ask me any of these directly and talk about your specific property, reach out and let’s have that conversation.
