Success leaves clues. And when you're selling one of your largest financial assets, those clues matter. Choosing a Realtor to sell your home is a big decision. There are thousands of licensed real estate agents in Arizona, and while we all have access to many of the same tools, we certainly don't all provide the same level of service. I'm a little biased because I've spent years building my own real estate business, but I also believe sellers deserve to know what to look for before hiring someone. And no, the answer isn't necessarily the agent with the biggest billboard, the fanciest business card, or the most recognizable brokerage name. Here are 10 things I would personally look for if I were hiring a Realtor to sell my home. 1. Do They Have an Online Presence? This is one of the first things I would check. If you're hiring someone to market your home, shouldn't they already know how to market themselves? Google their name. Look at their website. Check their social media accounts. Are they actively creating content? Are they educating buyers and sellers? Do they have videos, property tours, or examples of homes they've marketed? I'm not suggesting your Realtor needs to be a social media celebrity. Far from it. But today's buyers are looking for homes online, and your agent should understand how to reach them. Ask to see examples of how they've marketed other homes. Not just the photos, but the entire marketing plan. What did they do beyond putting the home in the MLS and waiting for the phone to ring? 2. What Do Their Reviews Say? I won't even buy a $20 sweater on Amazon without reading the reviews. So why would I hire someone to sell a $500,000 home without doing the same homework? Look at their Google reviews. Do they have any? Are they recent? What are people actually saying? Pay attention to the details. Do clients mention communication, problem-solving, negotiating, or going above and beyond? Also, look for reviews from people who had situations similar to yours. Selling an inherited home, downsizing after 30 years, or selling a home that needs repairs can require very different skills. A five-star rating is great, but the stories behind those stars tell you much more. 3. Do They Run Their Business Professionally? This one might sound a little silly, but look at their email address. Is it a professional business email connected to their company, or something like SallySellsArizona@gmail.com ? Now, there's nothing automatically wrong or insecure about using Gmail. But a professional business email can be one indication that an agent has invested in their business. More importantly, ask how they protect your personal information. During a real estate transaction, we exchange contracts, financial information, identification documents, and sometimes very sensitive personal details. You want someone who takes that responsibility seriously. Professionalism isn't just how someone dresses or what car they drive. It's also how they operate behind the scenes. 4. Are They Selling You on Their Brokerage or Their Own Abilities? This is a big one for me. There are some wonderful agents at large national brokerages and some wonderful agents at small independent brokerages. There are also inexperienced and poorly performing agents at both. A recognizable brokerage name doesn't automatically mean the individual agent has a great marketing plan. Ask what that specific agent is going to do to sell your home. Will they personally be involved? Who handles the marketing? Who answers buyer questions? Who negotiates your offers? And perhaps most importantly, can they show you examples of their own work? You're hiring an agent, not a logo. 5. Do They Have Suggestions for Getting Your Home Ready? When an agent walks through your home, they should be doing more than telling you how beautiful everything looks. They should be looking at your home through the eyes of a potential buyer. Are there repairs worth making? Would changing a paint color help? Should furniture be moved or removed? Are there inexpensive improvements that could make a big difference in how your home photographs? Sometimes the best advice is to spend a little money before listing. Other times, it's to save your money because the improvement won't likely bring a return. An experienced agent should help you understand the difference. And they shouldn't be afraid to tell you something you might not want to hear. 6. Do They Have Any Skin in the Game? This is another question I would ask. What is the agent investing in the sale of your home? Professional photography? Video? Digital advertising? Marketing materials? Open houses? What about light staging? At Rover Realty, we often bring in decorative items and make small staging adjustments to help a home show its best. Not every home needs expensive professional staging, and I don't believe every seller should automatically be told to spend thousands of dollars on it. Sometimes a few carefully selected items and a little furniture rearranging can make a tremendous difference. Of course, some properties benefit from full professional staging. The important thing is that your agent helps you evaluate the options instead of simply handing you another bill. Ask what marketing services are included and which ones you'll be expected to pay for separately. You should know that before signing a listing agreement. 7. Do They Have Experience Selling Homes Like Yours? Success leaves clues. Has the agent sold homes in your area? Have they worked in your price range? Do they understand your type of property? Selling a $300,000 condominium is different from selling a $1.5 million custom home on acreage. That doesn't mean an agent must have sold a home on your exact street to do a great job. But they should be able to demonstrate that they understand your market, your competition, and the buyers most likely to purchase your home. Ask about their recent sales. And don't just ask how many homes they've sold. Ask about their strategy, challenges they've encountered, and how they handled them. Experience matters most when something doesn't go according to plan. 8. Do They Have a Plan Beyond Putting Your Home in the MLS? The MLS is an important tool. It allows agents and buyers to find your home through numerous real estate websites. But putting a home in the MLS isn't a complete marketing strategy. Ask whether they hold open houses. Do they create videos? Do they have an established network of agents and potential buyers? How will they promote your property after the initial listing goes live? And what happens if your home doesn't sell in the first few weeks? Will they simply suggest a price reduction, or will they review the showing activity, buyer feedback, competing listings, and market changes before recommending the next step? A good agent should have a plan for launching your home and another plan for adjusting when needed. 9. Will They Tell You the Truth About Pricing? This might be the most important question of all. It's easy for an agent to tell you your home is worth more than the other agents suggested. After all, who doesn't want to hear their house is worth an extra $30,000? But an inflated listing price doesn't put more money in your pocket. In fact, it can do just the opposite. I believe an agent should walk through your home, review the comparable sales, evaluate the current competition, and explain how they arrived at their recommended price. They should also be willing to explain what could happen if you decide to list above that recommendation. You don't need someone who agrees with everything you say. You need someone who will give you the information necessary to make a smart decision. 10. How Will They Communicate With You? This is something sellers often don't think to ask until they're already frustrated. How often will your agent update you? Will you hear from them weekly, or only when there's an offer? Will they share feedback from showings? And when you have a question, who will you actually be talking to? Some agents have large teams, and you may meet with one person during the listing appointment but spend the rest of the transaction communicating with someone else. There's nothing necessarily wrong with having a team. In fact, having good support can be a tremendous benefit. But you should understand who will be handling the different parts of your sale. I also think it's important to discuss how you prefer to communicate. Some sellers love text messages, while others prefer phone calls or emails. And what happens when there isn't much activity? Personally, I think that's when communication becomes even more important. You shouldn't have to chase down your Realtor to find out what's happening with your home. Ask your agent what their communication plan looks like before you hire them. Selling a home can be stressful enough without wondering whether your agent is actually working on getting it sold. The Bottom Line: Interview the Agent, Not Just the Brokerage Selling your home is too important to hire someone simply because they're a friend of a friend, have a familiar brokerage logo, or promise the highest sales price. Ask questions. Look at their work. Read their reviews. Find out what they're willing to invest in your sale. And pay attention to whether they're asking good questions about your goals, timeline, and concerns. At Rover Realty, we believe our work should speak for itself. We're happy to share our marketing examples, explain our process, and show sellers exactly what they can expect when working with us. Because when it comes to selling your home, success leaves clues. If you're considering selling a home in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek, or the surrounding East Valley, we'd welcome the opportunity to sit down with you and discuss a plan that makes sense for your property. Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing a Realtor Should I interview more than one Realtor before selling my home? Absolutely. Interviewing multiple agents can help you compare their experience, marketing plans, communication styles, and pricing recommendations. Should I choose the Realtor who suggests the highest listing price? Not necessarily. Ask each agent to explain the comparable sales and current competition supporting their price recommendation. A higher suggested price doesn't guarantee a higher sale price. Does it matter which brokerage my Realtor works for? The brokerage provides support, tools, and oversight, but the individual agent's experience, work ethic, and marketing strategy are often more important than the name on the sign. Should my Realtor pay for professional photography and marketing? Ask what is included in the listing agreement. Many agents include professional photography and certain marketing services, while others charge separately. Know what you're receiving before you commit. Do Realtors need experience in my exact neighborhood? Not necessarily. An agent who understands your local market, property type, and price range can be an excellent choice even if they haven't sold a home on your particular street. Are open houses important when selling a home? Open houses can be one useful part of a marketing plan, but they're not a guarantee of finding a buyer. Ask your agent when they recommend open houses and how they fit into the overall strategy.  How often should my Realtor communicate with me while my home is listed? There isn't one schedule that works for every seller, but you should agree on expectations before listing. Weekly updates are a reasonable starting point, even when there are no showings or offers. Your agent should also keep you informed about buyer feedback, changes in the market, and anything that could affect your sale.

When people start thinking about downsizing, they often picture moving into a smaller house. Maybe something with a little yard, fewer bedrooms and less to clean. But there's another option that doesn't always get enough attention: condo living inside an established active adult community. It's an interesting combination. You get the lower-maintenance lifestyle of a condo, but you can still enjoy the activities, friendships and amenities of a much larger neighborhood. And for some people, that might be the perfect balance. Less Time Maintaining Your Home, More Time Enjoying It One of the biggest reasons people downsize is that they're tired of maintaining a house. The yard needs attention. The exterior needs painting. The roof eventually needs replacing. And there's always something that needs fixing. With many condos, the association takes care of much of the exterior maintenance, landscaping and common areas. That doesn't mean you have zero responsibilities. You'll still maintain the inside of your home, and exactly what the HOA covers varies by community. But imagine not having to worry about mowing the lawn, trimming trees or arranging for exterior maintenance every time you want to leave town. For someone who travels frequently or spends only part of the year in Arizona, that can be a pretty big benefit. You Can Downsize Your Home Without Downsizing Your Social Life Here's something I think people sometimes overlook when they're considering a move. When you've lived in a neighborhood for years, you've probably developed relationships with neighbors. You recognize people walking down the street, you know who lives next door, and you might have friends you've known for decades. Leaving those connections can be one of the hardest parts of downsizing. That's where an active adult community can offer something special. Instead of moving into a condo building where everyone goes home and closes their door, you may have access to an entire community of people with shared interests. Maybe you enjoy pickleball, golf, swimming, crafts or simply meeting friends for lunch. You can participate as much or as little as you want. And I think that's important. Not everyone wants a calendar full of activities. Sometimes it's just nice knowing the opportunities are there. The Amenities Can Be Better Than What You Had Before Think about what it would cost to have a swimming pool, fitness equipment, tennis courts or hobby space at your own home. Then think about how much work it takes to maintain all of that. In some established active adult communities, those amenities are already there for residents to enjoy. Take Sunland Towers in Mesa, for example. These condos are located within Sunland Village, an established 55+ community with access to swimming pools, a fitness center, pickleball, tennis, hobby spaces and a variety of clubs and activities. There's even an 18-hole golf course in the community and a restaurant near the course. Golf access and fees are separate from simply owning a home in the community. So while you may be moving into a smaller home, your opportunities for recreation and socializing can actually grow. That's a pretty good trade-off. A Great Option for Lock-and-Leave Living We work with quite a few people who don't plan to live in Arizona year-round. Some spend the summers somewhere cooler. Others want the freedom to visit family, travel or simply take off without worrying about everything back home. A condo can make that easier. Some buildings even offer covered parking, elevators and additional storage. At Sunland Towers, for example, residents have assigned parking underneath the building, elevator access and storage areas outside their units. That's especially convenient when you're bringing home groceries, traveling with luggage or simply don't want to deal with stairs. Of course, you'll still want someone checking on your property when you're away, and it's important to understand your HOA's rules and insurance requirements. But having fewer exterior responsibilities can make leaving town much simpler. There Are Trade-Offs You Need to Understand Now, I wouldn't be doing my job if I only talked about the benefits. Condo living isn't for everyone. You're going to have HOA fees, and depending on the community, those fees can be substantial. You'll also have rules about things like pets, parking, renovations and how you use your property. For example, Sunland Towers has a no-pet policy. For someone with a beloved dog or cat, that's probably an immediate deal-breaker. You'll also want to review the association's financial health, reserves, insurance coverage and any potential special assessments. And remember, while you may have fewer maintenance responsibilities, you're also giving up some control over decisions affecting the building. The key is understanding what you're getting for your HOA fees and whether those benefits match the lifestyle you want. Frequently Asked Questions About Condo Living in a 55+ Community Are condos really easier to maintain than single-family homes? Generally, yes. Many condo associations handle exterior maintenance, landscaping, roofs and common areas. However, owners are still responsible for certain repairs and maintenance, so it's important to review exactly what the HOA covers. Do you have to participate in community activities? Not at all. Most active adult communities offer clubs, events and recreational activities, but participation is optional. You can enjoy a busy social calendar or simply appreciate having the amenities available. Are HOA fees higher for condos in active adult communities? They can be, especially when you're paying for both building maintenance and community amenities. Some properties even have two separate associations. The important thing is to compare the total fees against the maintenance expenses and amenities included. Can you have pets in a 55+ condo community? That depends on the association. Some communities allow pets with restrictions, while others have no-pet policies. Sunland Towers, for example, does not permit pets under its general HOA rules. Applicable assistance-animal accommodations are handled separately under fair housing requirements. Is a condo a good choice for someone who only spends winters in Arizona? It certainly can be. Condos often require less exterior upkeep, making them attractive to seasonal residents. However, you'll still want to arrange for regular property checks, understand your insurance requirements and follow any HOA rules regarding extended absences. Can you finance a condo with a conventional mortgage? Sometimes, but condo financing can be more complicated than financing a single-family home. Lenders review both the buyer and the condominium project, including factors such as insurance, financial reserves and association conditions. It's wise to speak with a lender familiar with condo financing before making an offer. Sometimes Smaller Living Means a Bigger Life I've worked with plenty of people who reach a point where they simply don't want to spend their weekends taking care of a house anymore. They want to travel, golf, spend time with their grandchildren, meet new friends or just enjoy having fewer things on their to-do list. And downsizing doesn't necessarily mean moving into an isolated little space. Sometimes it means choosing a home that offers fewer responsibilities and more opportunities to enjoy life. Watch this video to explore the property and discover more about condo living: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0cjwbsVhLE