Are you thinking of hiring a real estate pro to help you sell or buy a home this year, or know somebody else who is?
PICKING THE RIGHT AGENT IS A BIG DEAL.
Here are some questions you should ask any agent you’re considering to figure out if they’re a good fit, followed by my own answers:
How long have you been helping people buy/sell homes here in Central Virginia?
"It's almost hard for me to believe, but 2026 marks my 23rd year selling real estate in Richmond. That means I've certainly seen 'the good, the bad, and the ugly' over the decades -- expansions and contractions, high and low interest rates, heated competition for a limited number of buyers, overheated competition for severely limited numbers of homes, and everything in between. I love bringing those decades of experience to bear for my clients as my team and I meet their real estate needs, and exceed their expectations. Experience makes all the difference!"
Can you share your reviews from previous clients?
"Positively! I love to show off our many five star reviews from years of happy clients on sites like Zillow.com, on Google, and at my team's Facebook page. Client testimonials are also aggregated right here on my website. Check us out!"
What’s your plan for marketing my property? Or for helping me find a property that meets my needs?
"When is comes to marketing a home, we most certainly have a plan and it works! We've, in fact, refined a 32-step process for getting homes sold in the shortest amount of time, for the best possible terms, and with the least possible stress on the owner. Some of those steps are more important than others, of course, but we find when we consistently execute the whole strategic plan without cutting any corners, our clients' needs never fail to be met. Work the plan, and the plan works!
On the buyer side of the equation, we have an equally effective plan and it all starts with a very thorough counseling session. We ask lots of questions, talk our about our process in detail, and then listen carefully as our clients express their unique needs and experiences. Buying a home has been a challenge, certainly, since 2020 but we still help our clients do it successfully day-in and day-out ... again, when we work the plan, the plan works!"
What’s your plan for regularly and consistently communicating with your clients?
"As alluded to above, communication is a cornerstone of our success. From the most basic policy of setting a weekly check-in appointment with our clients so they know when to expect to hear updates to creating innovative private portals they can check 24 hours a day for updates, documents, and next-steps, our client are never left in the dark. And, of course, we're always available by phone, text and email should interim questions arise!
Can you recommend other great professionals I might need throughout the sale/purchase process? (inspectors, attorneys, contractors, etc.)
"I like to tell folks that I've got an enormous Rolodex full of at least two of just about every trade there is, and many of them are the best pros in Richmond. You can check out a partial list any time at www.thehartonteam.com/home-service-pros - if you need more specialties, just let me know, and be sure to tell them Shannon sent you!"
What value do you bring to my home sale/purchase? Why should I hire you?
"Not to oversimplify, but Experience. Think of this way: Most people buy and sell a home once or twice over a decade, or even less. My team and I go through process every week, for the past 20 years. It's not that real estate sales and purchases are difficult, it's just that they're complex and until you've seen hundreds of iterations--all the different ways they can go--I firmly believe you shouldn't wade into the process without an experienced Realtor like me on your side. My team and are going to get you home!"
I’m glad to talk through these questions personally, work through your real estate goals with you, and do what it takes to earn your business. Let’s talk soon!
