How Do I Pick the Right Realtor to Sell My Home in Las Vegas or Henderson?

Why this choice matters more than most sellers think

In a 2024 Consumer Federation of America study of 2,000 agents at large brokerages in four regions of the country, almost half sold one home or none in a year, and 70 percent sold five or fewer. That is a national sample, not Las Vegas, but it is why you should verify any agent’s recent experience before you hire them.

Your home is probably your biggest asset. The agent you pick decides how it is priced, how it is marketed, and how it is negotiated. Those three things decide what you walk away with.

The questions to ask every agent

1. How many homes did you list and sell in the last 12 months, in my area and price range? Years in the business matter, but recent sales matter more. An agent with very few recent sales is something to look into, no matter how long they have had a license.

2. Do you work mostly with sellers or buyers? Selling a home is a different job from helping someone buy one. You want an agent who lists homes every month.

3. Are you full time? Showings, offers, and inspection problems come up on weekday afternoons and do not wait. Ask how fast the agent returns calls and how they handle a showing request or an offer when they are busy with something else. What matters is availability and accountability, and you want that answer up front.

4. Who will actually handle my sale? Some of the biggest names in Las Vegas real estate run large teams. The name on the sign brings you in, and then a team member meets you, lists the home, and handles your sale. Sometimes that person is excellent. Sometimes they started last year. Ask who will price your home, who will negotiate your offers, and who will answer your calls. Get the answer in writing.

When you hire me, I am the one who meets you, prices your home, and negotiates your offers.

5. Show me two or three recent listings you sold. List price, sale price, and how many days it took. That tells you whether the agent prices homes right and markets them well, without taking anyone’s word for it.

Then ask for two or three recent references, and read the agent’s reviews. Recent sales prove the agent can sell. References and reviews tell you what it was like to work with them.

Related: Why do some Las Vegas homes sell in a week while others sit for months?

How a good agent prices your home

Ask every agent how they arrived at their number. The answer should include two sets of data.

Recent sold homes. The most recent sales that are the most similar and the closest to your house. Apples to apples as much as possible: a single story compared to single stories, a three car garage compared to three car garages, remodeled compared to remodeled.

Your competition. How many homes are for sale right now in your subdivision, and at what prices. Buyers look at every one of them and pick the best house for the best price. Based on your home’s features, condition, and upgrades, you want to be the most competitive home in that group.

A good agent also looks at days on market for both groups, because it can tell you a lot. A home that sold quickly may have been priced competitively, while one that sat for 90 days deserves a closer look at the original price, condition, marketing, and price reductions.

What if one agent quotes a much higher price? It is not what the agent says. It is what the market is going to give you, based on your home’s features, condition, and market value. If one agent’s number is far above the others, ask what they know that makes the price so much higher, and ask to see the sold homes and active listings behind it. If they cannot show you, the high number may be a way to win the listing, and the price reductions come later. The longer a home sits, the more buyers question its price and your negotiating position.

What it costs to sell, and what you walk away with

Ask every agent for an estimated seller net sheet: the likely sale price, the commission, closing costs, and what you will actually walk away with. Commission is negotiable, and the lowest fee does not always produce the highest net. Compare the services, the pricing strategy, and the estimated proceeds side by side.

Related: What does it cost to sell a house in Las Vegas, and how much will I walk away with?

How the agent will market your home

Professional photos, video, and drone footage are standard now. Almost every agent does them. Ask what the agent does beyond that.

Here is what we do on every listing:

• Call the neighborhood directly, one by one. Buyers often come from the neighbors’ own friends and relatives. Your next buyer may be your neighbor’s sister.
• Mail the neighborhood a minimum of three to six letters through the marketing period and escrow.
• Call and market to our own database of past clients and buyers.
• Social media, on every platform.

Two questions to ask every agent: “Can I see your marketing plan in writing?” and “How will you update me on showings and feedback, and how often?”

How often you will hear from your agent

Every Monday, my sellers get an email with the number of showings that week, the feedback from the buyers and agents who saw the home, and what came on the market or went under contract in their neighborhood. Then I call every seller myself at least once a week to go over questions and anything I would advise them to change or improve.

If an agent cannot tell you exactly how and when they will update you, they do not have a system.

Read the listing agreement before you sign

• Services for the fee. Know exactly what you get for what you pay.
• The list price. It should be clear and agreed on before you sign, not decided later.
• How long the agreement runs and what happens if you are unhappy. Ask about the cancellation terms, whether there is any early termination fee, and how long the protection period lasts after the listing expires. With me, if you are unhappy and we cannot fix it, email us with two weeks’ notice and we will cancel the listing. No cancellation fee.
• When it goes live. Get the step by step timeline: whether the home starts as coming soon, how fast the photos are done, what prep the house needs, and the date it goes active on the MLS.

Frequently asked questions

How many agents should I interview before I list my home? Two or three. Ask each one the same questions so you can compare the answers.

Should I hire the agent who says my home is worth the most? Not on that alone. Ask to see the sold homes and active listings behind the price. The market sets the value, not the agent.

Does it matter if my agent is part time? What matters is availability. Ask how fast the agent returns calls and how they handle showings and offers when they are busy with something else.

What should I ask a big real estate team before I hire them? Who will price the home, negotiate the offers, and answer your calls. Get it in writing.

How often should my agent update me while my home is listed? At least weekly, with the number of showings, the feedback, and what changed in your neighborhood’s competition.

What will it cost me to sell, and how much will I walk away with? Ask every agent for an estimated seller net sheet. Compare the services, the pricing strategy, and the estimated proceeds, not just the fee.

What should I check in the listing agreement? The services you get for the fee, the list price, how long the agreement runs, what happens if you are unhappy, and the date the home goes live.

Thinking about selling your home in Las Vegas or Henderson?

Interview me. Ask me every question in this article and I will show you the numbers behind my answers.

Call Mike at 702-530-5844

Or email mike@vegascapital.com.

Study cited: Consumer Federation of America, January 2024, a sample of 2,000 agents at large brokerages in four regions, 2023 sales. This article provides general real estate information, not legal or financial advice.

Watch: four tips for hiring a listing agent