If you are a serious seller and are setting out to hire a good listing agent, I would encourage you to consider the following. Hiring the right person will help you avoid the things I discussed in my earlier posts (Part 1, Part 2), and probably avoid a long drawn-out sale...or worse, having your home rejected by the market.

Some suggestions:

•·        A good listing agent is not the agent who promises a particular price or the highest list price (don't forget - the market determines the sales price, not you or the agent)

•·        Look for evidence of a strong marketing plan, in writing. It should be clear what your agent is going to do and when. A good agent will want to be held accountable and will do what they say they are going to do.

•·        Find an agent who really knows and understands the current market and can provide specific data (comparables, trends, actual sales, current listings, market rejections) to support their position. Who is your competition? What is your target market?

•·        A strong listing agent will likely be someone with a high percentage of sold homes relative to the number they list (just because someone lists many homes does not mean they sell them)

•·        You need someone with a strong understanding and use of technology. The majority of buyers these days use the Internet to search for homes first before hiring an agent.

•·        Someone who asks lots of open ended questions and listens to the answers, and who can provide options as well as solutions to problems

•·        A list of references. Testimonials are important, too, but speaking with references will be reassuring.

If you can work with someone you already have experience with, or someone who is highly recommended, you will be much further along. But if not, these suggestions should help you find the best person to assist you. If I can provide more information, please, let me know