When trying to sell your home, I am sure you are going to interview several agents if you don't have one that you know and like. I am also sure each and every agent that you meet will show up on your doorstep with a giant smile and warm attitude... after-all, you are a prospect at this point.

So, how do you choose one?

You can look at their marketing program, you can consider their past sales record, you can even decide if your personalities will work together.... but how do you know if the other agents out there will avoid showing and selling your house because your agent has trouble getting along with other agents?

If your agent has a reputation in the industry that you don't know about... couldn't this hurt your chance of selling?

I know that if a buyer that I am working with loves a house listed by someone who is unscrupulous and terrible at Real Estate, it's hard for me to get excited about the prospect of having to work with that agent. Fortunately, there are not many in my area that I feel this way about now, and I love to take on a challenge, but I know that it's not going to be an easy road and I have to be at the top of my game.

My client's come first! There is no ands, ifs or buts about it! If the house fits the needs of my clients, I am going to show the house and sell it to them if we can make a deal. What matters most to my client's is what matter's most to me... I don't even consider who will be on the other end of the deal. But not everyone works that way either!

It is human nature to avoid uncomfortable situations. So how can you be sure that your agent does not make all the other agents out there hate working with him/her?

This is a good question, and most (note, I say most) agents will not talk about others. I would suggest you google the agent's name. See what you can find out about him/her. Talk to that agent's broker as well as past and present clients (both buyers & sellers). Get the actual listing printout from prior sales by this agent and do some checking. Did the agent do a good job, respond to requests promptly, get the agreements of sale quickly, get paperwork for closing timely, would the buyer/seller use that agent next time, etc. See what kind of reputation they have, how long they've been in the business, and what kind of job they have done... look below the surface. A little time doing your homework will pay off in your pocket when you close on your house sale!