How do I choose a real estate agent to sell my home in St. George?
How do you choose a real estate agent to sell your home in St. George, Utah? Interview two or three agents, ask each one how they got to their price and how they'll market your home, and choose the one who looks at your whole situation instead of just asking for the listing. I'm Nate Shaw, a REALTOR® with Keller Williams Ascend in St. George, Utah, and I help homeowners across Washington County decide whether to sell, then sell well when it's the right move.
Picking an agent is a bigger decision than most people give it credit for. Your home is probably the biggest thing you own, and the person you hire will set the price, decide who sees it, and sit across the table from the buyer when it's time to negotiate.
A lot of sellers I meet have a story about the last agent. I hear things like "He just wanted the listing. He never asked what I actually needed." And "All agents just want the commission." If you've felt that, you're not wrong to be careful. Here's how I'd go about choosing, whether you end up working with me or someone else.
What questions should I ask a real estate agent before I hire them?
Sit down with each agent, in person if you can, and ask the same questions so you can compare the answers side by side.
- "How did you come up with that price?" A good agent shows you homes like yours that actually sold nearby, not just the ones that are listed. They should be able to walk you through why each one matters. Listed isn't sold.
- "How will you market my home?" Listen for a real plan, not "it goes in the MLS and we wait." On my listings, that's a strategic campaign: postcards, email, marketing directly to other agents statewide and nationwide, pay-per-click social ads, and paid featured placement where buyers are already looking.
- "Who will I actually be working with?" Some agents hand you off once you sign. Ask who answers your calls, who shows the home, and who handles the paperwork.
- "How will you keep me updated?" Ask how often you'll hear from them and how. This matters even more if you live out of state.
- "What happens if we don't get showings?" Ask what they'll look at and when. A good agent has a plan before the listing goes live, not after it sits.
- "Can you help with the parts I can't do myself?" Cleanout, repairs, yard work, staging. Some agents can help with those and some can't. Find out up front.
- "Would you ever tell me not to sell?" This one tells you a lot. The answer you want is yes.
Why does the way an agent prices my home matter so much?
Because the price is where most listings go wrong.
It's easy for an agent to win a listing by telling you a high number. It feels good. Then the home sits, buyers compare it to better-priced homes nearby, and the price reductions start. Sellers can end up with less than if they'd priced it right from the start.
I'm going to tell you what the market is showing us, not necessarily what you want to hear. The market is the market. My job is to read it accurately, then help you decide what to do with that number. If you want to see how I work through it, read how agents figure out what your home is worth.
So when you compare agents, don't hire the highest number. Hire the clearest explanation.
What should a good agent ask me?
The questions an agent asks you are just as telling as their answers.
A good agent wants to know more than the square footage. They'll ask about your plans:
- Where are you going next, and when?
- Do you need to buy before you sell?
- Is there family helping, or are you handling this on your own?
- How much of the cleanout and prep can you realistically do?
- Is selling even the right move right now?
I start with the decision, not the listing. Sometimes the right move is selling now. Sometimes it's waiting a year. And sometimes it's staying put. I'll tell you to keep your house if that's the right move.
What are the red flags when choosing a real estate agent?
- A price far above everyone else's, with no sold homes to back it up.
- Pressure to sign today. A good agent gives you time to think and talk it over with your family.
- No marketing plan, or a plan that's only "it goes on the MLS."
- They talk about themselves more than about your home. Awards and rankings don't sell your house. A plan does.
- They can't explain the paperwork in plain words. If you don't understand what you're signing, ask until you do.
- They never ask about your situation. If an agent doesn't ask where you're going next, they're thinking about the listing, not about you.
Does it matter if the agent is local?
Yes. Washington County isn't one market. A home in Ivins, a home in Hurricane, and a home in central St. George can attract very different buyers, and they can price very differently, even when they look similar on paper.
A local agent knows which neighborhoods are moving, which buyers are looking right now, and what a home's views, lot, or HOA really add or take away. I've lived here more than 45 years.
Local also matters for the hands-on parts. If you live out of state, you need someone who can be at the house when the inspector, the cleanout crew, or the handyman shows up. A family back East once trusted my team and me to handle their mom's home here while they stayed home with their work and their own families. You can read how that kind of sale works from out of state.
What does choosing an agent look like in real life?
Here's an example of how I'd walk through it. Say you've lived in your St. George home for twenty-five years, and you're thinking about moving closer to your kids. You call three agents.
The first one tells you a big number on the phone, before seeing the house, and wants to list next week. The second one sends a nice brochure but doesn't ask much about you. The third one comes to the house, asks where you're headed and how much help you have, then comes back with homes like yours that actually sold, a marketing plan, and a few options: sell now, fix a few things first, or wait.
The third conversation might not have the biggest number. But it's the only one built on your actual situation. That's the one I'd trust with my own family's home.
How do I compare agents side by side?
After you've talked to each one, ask yourself:
- Who explained the price best, using homes that actually sold?
- Who had a real marketing plan I could picture working?
- Who asked the most about my situation, not just my house?
- Who can help with the hard parts, like cleanout and repairs, if I need it?
- Who would I want to call when something goes sideways?
If one agent wins most of those, you have your answer. If you're torn, ask each one to walk you through what the first two weeks on the market would look like. The details will tell you a lot.
Frequently asked questions
How many real estate agents should I interview before I sell?
Interviewing two or three real estate agents before you sell is usually enough to compare pricing, marketing plans, and how well each one understands your situation.
Should I choose the agent who gives me the highest price?
You shouldn't choose an agent just because they give you the highest price. Ask each agent to show you homes like yours that actually sold, and choose the one with the clearest explanation and plan.
What should a real estate agent do to market my home?
A real estate agent should have a real plan to market your home, beyond putting it in the MLS. That can include mailers, email, marketing to other agents, social media ads, and paid featured placement on the sites where buyers search.
Can a real estate agent help me clean out and prepare my home?
Some real estate agents can help you clean out and prepare your home and some can't, so ask before you hire. Depending on the home, my team can help with the cleanout, decluttering, painting, handyman work, and staging.
What if I live out of state and need to sell my home in St. George?
If you live out of state and need to sell a home in St. George, choose a local agent who can be there for inspections, repairs, and showings and who keeps you updated by phone, text, or video.
Where do I start?
Start with a conversation, not a contract. Tell me about your home and where you're thinking about going, and I'll walk you through what homes like yours have actually sold for and what I'd do in your shoes. If waiting or staying put is the better move, I'll tell you that too.
I'm Nate Shaw, a REALTOR® with Keller Williams Ascend in St. George, Utah, and I help homeowners across Washington County decide whether to sell, then sell well when it's the right move. Call or text me at 435-229-2365, or send me a message. I'm happy to help with whatever, just let me know what I can do for you.
If you're trying to decide between a quick cash offer and listing your home, read whether to sell as-is or fix it up first.