It can be a daunting prospect to choose the right Realtor to represent you in the sale of your home. But it doesn't have to be if you are pragmatic in your selection 
process. Here are 6 questions you should ask each potential candidate before hiring one.
- How many homes did you sell last year? The best measure of whether an agent can get the job done for you is their track record. Recently I listed a higher end home for a homeowner whose previous agent had not sold any homes in the last 8 months. Needless to say, they were quite frustrated to learn this after their home spent 6 months on the market with barely a nibble.
- What designations do you hold? Designations like Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) show that the agent is committed to their real estate career by investing in advanced training.
- How will you market my home? The days of putting a For Sale sign in the yard and hoping for the best are long gone. Look for an agent who does aggressive and innovative marketing, and is leveraging the power of the internet to get your home sold. Before you list with an agent visit their website--is it professional and engaging to potential Buyers? Once your house is on the market, check to make sure they have delivered what they promised to you. At the very least, go to the 3 major public real estate sites: Trulia.com, Zillow.com, and Realtor.com, and take a look at your listing with a Buyers hat on--does it make your house appealing enough for Buyers to visit it in person?
- How will you keep me informed? I can't tell you how many people tell me that they hire an agent and never see or hear from them again until there is an offer on the table or it is time to renew the listing. You deserve to know how your listing is performing as well as what is going on with the real estate market in general.
- Can you provide references? Ask to talk to at least three clients that the agent assisted. Call and ask whether they would work with the agent again.
- Are you a REALTOR®? All real estate licensees are not the same. Only
real estate licensees who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate.
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