What Should You Ask Before Hiring a Listing Agent for Your $1M+ Chandler or Tempe Home?

Oct 13

Before you hire a listing agent for a $1M+ home in Chandler or Tempe, ask about their recent sales in your area and price range, how they'll set the price, and exactly what marketing your home will get. Then ask the practical questions most sellers skip: how they'll keep you posted, who actually shows the home, what happens if it hasn't sold in a few weeks, and how long the listing agreement runs. The answers will tell you more than any sales pitch.

What recent sales have they had in your area and price range?

Start here. You want an agent who knows how homes like yours actually sell.

Ask for specific addresses. Ask what each one listed for, what it sold for, and how long it took. A good agent can talk through these from memory or send a list the same day.

Be fair about it, though. At $1M+ in South Chandler and South Tempe, there aren't a lot of sales in any one neighborhood each year. Even a busy agent may only have a handful in your exact pocket. What matters more is whether they understand it: what a lake lot in Ocotillo is worth compared to a home a block back, or why two South Tempe homes on the same street sold far apart.

Ask to see a full sold list, too. Here's my own list of homes sold in Chandler and Tempe, so you know I'm not asking you to do anything I wouldn't.

How will they price your home?

Ask them to walk you through the method behind the number.

A solid answer sounds like this: recent closed sales of truly similar homes, adjusted for the differences, plus a hard look at what's for sale right now and how long it's been sitting. An answer that leans on the Zestimate is a red flag at this price. Here's why the Zestimate misses on $1M+ homes.

Be careful with the agent who gives you the highest number in the room. It feels great. It's also a well-worn way to win a listing: promise a big price, then start talking about reductions a few weeks in.

One good follow-up: "What would make you change your mind about this price?" A thoughtful agent will have a real answer.

What exactly will they do to market your home?

"We'll put it on the MLS" is the starting line. A real plan goes a lot further.

Ask for specifics. Who takes the photos? Is there a video walkthrough? A floor plan? Drone footage, if your lot calls for it? What happens in the first two weeks? How do they reach agents with buyers in your price range, and buyers moving here from out of state?

I wrote out the full list in what marketing a $1M+ listing should get. Bring it to the interview and check things off as you go.

If privacy matters to you, ask about that here too. A good agent can explain the quiet options and what each one costs you, without pushing you toward one.

How will they keep you posted?

This question gets skipped a lot, and it's the easiest one to settle up front.

Flip it around. Before they tell you how they communicate, tell them how you like to. Do you want a text after every showing, or one call a week? Do you avoid phone calls? Do you want email so you have it in writing? A good agent adjusts to you, not the other way around.

Then ask who you'll actually hear from. The agent, an assistant, or a team member you haven't met yet? Any of those can work. You just want to know before you sign.

And notice how fast they reply while they're still trying to win your business. If it took two days to get a call back during the interview stage, that's useful information.

Who actually shows your home?

Usually the buyer's agent shows the home to their own buyer. Ask how access works at your house: a lockbox, an appointment system, your agent there in person, or some mix.

For a $1M+ home, it's fair to ask what happens before someone walks in. Are showings by appointment only? Does every buyer come with an agent? Will your agent be there for some showings, and which ones?

If you have pets, a home office, or a schedule that's hard to work around, say so now. It changes how showings get set up.

What happens if it doesn't sell, and how do you get out?

Nobody loves this question in the first meeting. Ask it anyway.

Try: "If we haven't had an offer in four weeks, what do we do?" A good agent has an answer more specific than "be patient." It might be a price review, new photos, or a different approach to agents. You can read what usually goes wrong in why a Chandler home didn't sell the first time.

Then read the listing agreement before you sign it. How long does it run? Can you cancel, and what happens if you do? Are there fees or conditions that apply after it ends, like owing compensation if a buyer who saw the home during the listing buys it later? Ask about all of it now. These terms are much easier to talk about before you sign than after.

A confident agent doesn't need to lock you in. If they're doing the job, you won't want to leave.

Last, read reviews, and look for ones from sellers in particular. Pay attention to how problems got handled, since every sale has a few. I have 327 client reviews across Google and Zillow, and you can read my client reviews the same way you'd read anyone's.

Quick answers

What questions should I ask a realtor before listing my house?

Ask about their recent sales in your area and price range, how they'll price your home, what specific marketing it will get, and how they'll keep you posted. Also ask how long the listing agreement runs and how you can cancel.

How do I choose a listing agent for a luxury home?

Look for someone who knows the $1M+ sales in your neighborhood, can explain their pricing method, and can show you a written marketing plan. Pick the clearest plan, not the highest price.

Can I cancel a listing agreement in Arizona?

It depends on the terms of the agreement you sign. Ask about cancellation before you sign, and read the agreement for any fees or conditions that apply after it ends.

If you're interviewing agents for a $1M+ home, I'm glad to be one of them, and I'll answer every question on this list. Call or text me at 480-448-2020, or book a time to talk.

Ben Graham

You’ve made it. Now you want a home that finally feels like it.

Since 2011, I’ve helped move-up and move-in buyers do exactly that across South Tempe and South Chandler. More land, more quiet, more character, without leaving the city behind. If you’re buying or selling above $1M in 85284 or 85248, you want an advisor who knows the ground, not a salesperson who knows a script.

That’s the whole job, and it’s the part I love most.

Book a Phone Consultation

Ben is a husband, father, and full-time real estate advisor based in Chandler. Since 2011, across more than 500 transactions, he’s guided buyers and sellers through the Southeast Valley’s best neighborhoods.

His approach is simple: teach the market like a teacher, protect your equity like it’s his own, and tell you the truth even when the truth is “wait.” Clear communication, a proven plan, and your interests first.

Most of Ben’s clients fall into two camps.

The move-up buyer who’s outgrown a great starter home in Chandler or Tempe and is ready for something that feels like an arrival. More space, more privacy, more character, same easy access to four freeways, great schools, and Sky Harbor.

The move-in buyer relocating from out of town who needs someone who actually knows which street holds its value and which one only looks like it does.

He also represents sellers across South Tempe and South Chandler who want their home priced right in week one and marketed like the asset it is.

Faith and family are the center of how Ben lives and works. He’s a follower of Christ, a husband, and a father, raising his kids in Chandler with his wife Sarah. The family is active at CCV, the kids attend Valley Christian, and they support foster care and adoption. One of their sons joined the family that way.

Clients often tell Ben his faith is part of why they trusted him with one of the biggest decisions of their lives. He doesn’t take that lightly.

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https://www.8448luxury.com/