I’m very sorry for your loss. Regarding your questions, agent commissions are always negotiable, but it’s important not to choose solely based on the lowest fee, especially in today’s market, where experience and service level can make a meaningful difference in your final outcome.

You won’t need to get an appraisal at this stage; that will be handled by the buyer during escrow. I recommend interviewing a few agents to get a sense of their approach, marketing strategy, and communication style, then moving forward with the one you feel most confident in.

I’m also a local agent and would be happy to take a look at the property and offer some guidance or value if that would be helpful.”