The 12 questions before signing an exclusive
Signing an exclusive isn't bad. Signing it after a single sales conversation can be. These twelve questions separate a plan from a promise — ask them of any agent, whether or not you work with Albaysol.
Print this page or save it on your phone: the scorecard at the end is meant to travel to every meeting.
About the price
- 01How did you arrive at this valuation?
A good answer cites comparable CLOSED sales in your area (not active listings), your home's real condition and expected time to sell. A bad one: “experience” or a round number with no paperwork.
- 02What happens if in 6 weeks there aren't enough viewings?
A professional has a correction plan with thresholds: how many viewings are “few”, when the price gets reviewed and by how much. If they improvise here, they'll improvise then.
- 03Can you show me two sales like mine that you closed?
Not to show off: to prove they know YOUR kind of home in YOUR area. Approximate dates and streets are enough; their clients' personal data has no place here.
About the sales plan
- 04What exactly does your marketing plan include?
Professional photography, floor plan, written listing, specific portals, accompanied viewings… In writing. “We move it through our channels” is not a plan, it's a sentence.
- 05Who runs the viewings and how do I hear about them?
Who shows your home, how prepared, and what you receive after each viewing: real feedback (what worked, what stalled) or administrative silence.
- 06How often do we talk, and about what?
An agreed rhythm (weekly or fortnightly) with concrete content: viewings, real interest, next step. Communication shouldn't depend on you chasing.
- 07What will you do differently from what I already tried?
Especially after a failed listing. A good answer diagnoses (price, photos, buyer filtering); a bad one only criticises the previous agent.
About the contract
- 08How long does the exclusive last and how do I exit if you don't deliver?
A concrete duration (3-6 months is typical) and a clear exit if the agreed plan isn't executed. Beware silent auto-renewals.
- 09What are your fees, what do they include — and what not?
Percentage or flat, with VAT, and the list of what's inside. Ask explicitly about separate costs (energy certificate, powers of attorney, cancellations).
- 10What if a buyer appears through me?
Some exclusives cover it, some don't. Whatever the answer, it belongs on paper, not in conversation.
About the person
- 11How many sales are you handling right now?
Neither zero (why?) nor forty (will they have time for you?). Look for real capacity to dedicate to yours.
- 12What structure is behind you if something goes wrong?
Holidays, illness, a hard negotiation, complex paperwork. The answer can be a team, a partner office or a documented method — but it must exist.
The scorecard
Score each answer from 1 (vague, no paperwork) to 3 (concrete, in writing, with examples). Under 24 points out of 36: keep looking.
| Question | Agent A | Agent B | Agent C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01How did you arrive at this valuation? | |||
| 02What happens if in 6 weeks there aren't enough viewings? | |||
| 03Can you show me two sales like mine that you closed? | |||
| 04What exactly does your marketing plan include? | |||
| 05Who runs the viewings and how do I hear about them? | |||
| 06How often do we talk, and about what? | |||
| 07What will you do differently from what I already tried? | |||
| 08How long does the exclusive last and how do I exit if you don't deliver? | |||
| 09What are your fees, what do they include — and what not? | |||
| 10What if a buyer appears through me? | |||
| 11How many sales are you handling right now? | |||
| 12What structure is behind you if something goes wrong? |
It's the same logic as Albaysol's comparator: same questions, same criteria, side by side. That's choosing wisely — with us or without us.
Whenever you're ready, the next step
If your zone is in the pilot, Albaysol structures this same comparison in private: up to three suitable agents answer these criteria without you sharing your phone with any of them.
See how it works