If you are like most people you will only sell a few homes in your lifetime. Most people do not buy homes with the intent to immediately sell them unless they are investors.

If you are a common seller then chances are you know very little about real estate. This means that you probably have no clue how to maximize your profits when you’re going to make a sale.

Having a real estate professional is practically essential for this, however most people make the mistake of assuming every Realtor is the same and that simply is not true.

You should not list with the first agent that asks you for the job just becuse he/she was the first agent you found. If you are going to you should at least make sure he/she knows what he/she is doing. Selling your home is a big responsibility, which means you will want someone that is knowledgeable, understanding, professional, and helpful. You do not want someone that is only out for themselves and that has no real knowledge of the business.

This article was written to help you gain some valuable information that will help you make the best decision concerning which real estate agent you should list with.

The best thing you can do is start with some research. Ask people you know and trust for a referral. Look around your neighborhood at advertising and find the names that keep popping up. Find the agents that appear to be the most active in the community. Once you do this you should have a small list. You will want to ask them the following questions to help you decide which agent you should list with.

Could you send me some information about yourself?
This is a standard question. Every agent should have some marketing materials with information about their business. Looking at these materials and any testimonials they will send will help you to get a better sense of who they are. Ask them for references as well. If they are reputable they will have no problem letting you contact their past clients. You will also want to pay attention to how long it takes them to send this material to you. You don’t want to work with an agent that tells you they will get something to you and it takes awhile for you to get it. If they cannot get you some simple materials how are they going to sell your home?

How many homes have you listed and sold in the last six months?
It is important that you have an agent that is familiar with selling homes in your area and for your price range. If you find an agent that normally sells homes for thousands of dollars less and 50 miles from your area chances are they will not be able to help you as much as someone that has sold many homes in your area with the same features and in a similar price range to your home. You want an agent that has experience and is familiar with selling your kind of home, not just homes in general.

What is the average length of time it takes your listings to sell?
Ask your potential real estate agent if you can see information on some of the more recent homes they have listed and sold. Just because they list and sell quickly it does not mean they are the right agent for you. Occasionally, an agent will sell for a much lower price just to sell. This means the agent would appear to have a quick selling time. However, you want an agent that can list and sell quickly, but still get you the price you need and deserve.

How long have you been in business and what professional organizations do you belong to?
Don’t take too much stock in how long a person has been a real estate agent. While experience is important the time served in the real estate world does not mean that the agent is better than someone with fewer years in. The organizations they are a part of do signal professionalism though. You want someone that is a member of their local board of Realtors as well as the state and national associations. If the agent is also in community groups and area associations this is great, as well. You want someone that is well known and respected because this makes selling your home that much easier.

Do you have an assistant or team put together?
If the agents you are looking at have an assistant or a team that means they have more time to deal with you and less time dealing with mundane issues that often must be dealt with. It also means you will have more people available to help service your needs. The key here is to find out if they have a team, how much time you will be dealing with the agent and how much time you will be placed in his teams hands.

How often will you hold open houses?
You want to be sure that if you list with someone they will have the ability to sell your home. It would be nice if all you had to do was put a sign in your yard to sell your home, but then if it were that easy you could just do it yourself. So find out if your agent does open houses, how often he does them, if they are by appointment or just scheduled for the public, and how he plans to market them. These things will let you see part of his marketing plan and make you more secure in your choice.

What listing price do you recommend and what is that price based on?
The right price is the most essential step in selling your home. You will want an agent that not only has the knowledge to price your home correctly but that is honest enough to tell you the exact truth on what you will be able to get for your home. Avoid agents that are willing to list your home at whatever price you want. They are just going for the listing and will tell you that you should lower your price later. On the flip side you want to avoid an agent that wants to list for a price that seems unusually low just to sell your home quickly. This usually signals the fact that he’s not a swift negotiator. If the agent gives you a price, ask him how he got it. You want an agent to give you the right price but it is important that you know how he does things and that he has the ability to communicate the facts to you as well as to get the job done.

What does the listing agreement entail?
This is a very important thing. Make sure that you are aware of the beginning and ending dates of the agreement and how many fees you will be paying, not to mention what they are for. You will want your agent to go over every single detail of the contract so that you understand it completely. A standard contract listing is for three months depending on the area. If they want to list for longer ask them why. If the agent is asking for a small commission that is much less than you have heard from other agents ask why the fee is so low. A top producer has a base fee if not higher and will not lower this fee in most cases. A normal commission is between 5 and 12%. Unfortunately if an agent is asking for less then that it normally means he has little intention to market your correctly.

What disclosure laws apply to me?
You need to know what you need to be aware of and what you are responsible for when selling your home. Your real estate agent should be able to tell you these things. Ask them to help you locate the professionals needed to do whatever home inspections you need done. Your agent should also be willing to handle or help you fill out the disclosure statements and any property fact sheets, property profiles, and anything else you may need to get your home sold properly.

What types of things separate you from your competition?
You need to know the following things before you commit to a real estate professional. Keep in mind that they should have no problem explaining how they will do any of the following things for you:

* How your home will be marketed
* How much time and energy will be spent on advertising?
* Do they have 24-hour voicemail and technology working to market your home?
* Will all the leads be followed up on by your agent’s team or by someone else?

Ultimately you want to know that your agent is knowledgeable, honest, and has the ability to market your home for a fast profitable sale.

If you need any help in your quest to sell your home please feel free to let me know. As always I will do anything I can to help you through this period in your life.