If you are reading this you are either interested in selling your home or you are curious to find out more about it. The first thing you should ask yourself is if you are ready to place your home on the market. If you think you are, are you sure? How much do you know about selling your home? Do you know how to pick an agent that will suit all of your real estate needs? Are you informed on all the factors involved in real estate and selling? You need to be as knowledgeable and informed as possible so you can make the best decision for you, your family, and your home. This is a business transaction and anyone that tells you different is uninformed.

Most average sellers know little to nothing about how real estate sells. Normally a person will pick an agent and allow the agent to handle what they consider the "hard stuff". It is the agent’s job to handle your needs and sell your home for the highest amount of money possible. Before handing this job to anyone remember that this is your home and your money so you should list with someone you can trust to take care of both of these things.

The question now becomes how do you find that agent?

This article is designed to give you the information you need to help you choose an agent so you can sell your home in the most effective manner for your individual situation. It will help you understand more about what type of real estate agent you want in charge of your most precious investment and it will also teach you something about selling real estate as a whole.

The best advice I can give you is to start with some research. Find out who the most active agents are in your market and start with them. Look at advertising to see how professional it is. Ask friends and family for referrals of people they have used in the past. From there you should have compiled a list of agents.

Now you can use the following tips to discover who you want to have the job of selling your home.

The Phone Interview
Place a call to every agent on your list. Call their voice mail to see how long it takes them to get back to you. This is important because they will be returning calls to people that call about buying your home. When you are talking to them consider the communication level and how you feel about what they say to you. Do they seem like a carbon copy salesman or like someone you can trust?

Request a Complete Plan
If you are going to hire someone to sell your home you deserve to know what the entire process is going to entail. They should be able to give you a plan from signing the listing all the way to escrow. They should be able to tell you all the services they can provide you and they these things are necessary to sell your home.

Evaluate the Team
Many full time real estate agents have an established team that they work with. This team normally consists of any or all of the following: personal assistants, lenders, title reps, inspectors, and so on. These people are all there to help get your home sold.

Detailed Report of your Property
Once you have invited the Realtor to see your home ask for a complete report of your property. This should include things like ideas for improvements, changes, repairs, and basically anything that can add to the value of your sale.

Alternative Report
Request a report of any possible alternatives to the sale of your home. Find out about current market leases, renting, and the responsibilities involved in both options. Have your agent educate you on every possible option you have.

Insist on Prequalification of Potential Buyers
Don't waste time negotiating or showing your property to unqualified prospects. Unfortunately, if a potential buyer has not been qualified then you do not even know if they can afford your home or not. Insist that your agent pre-qualifies buyers to screen out all unwanted prospects.

A Net Sheet
Request a complete net sheet and have the Realtor remove any commissions and fees. This will show your exact proceeds at the time of sale.

A Marketing Plan
It is only fair that you have access to all information that will be used to help sell your home. Insist on a marketing plan that will explain how your property is going to be sold and marketed. Look for ways to attract home buyers. Demand around the clock advertising and tracking services.

Telemarketing Efforts
Investigate the agent’s telemarketing team. Do they have one? If they do not have a telemarketing team, ask them why. If they do, find out how they handle calls. Do they cold call or do they use lead marketing and call already willing prospects?

Direct Mail
Does the agent send direct mail? If so, how often do prospects receive mail from the Realtor? Does the mail appear professional or edge more towards amateurish? Is the mail image marketing or is it direct response marketing?

Advertising
This is one of the most important areas where selling your home is concerned. Is the advertising well written and professional? How many places does the agent like to advertise in? Do they do anything other than the traditional yard signs, newspapers, and homes magazines? Do they have a website and will your home be listed on it? Remember, the quality of the advertising will influence how well your home will be perceived and how many people choose to look at it.

Negotiation Strategy
It is essential that you have a written negotiation strategy. Insist on a sound negotiation strategy before you begin negotiations with any buyers. You want to be prepared and have every opportunity to make the most money possible.

Closing Checklist
Be sure to get a written closing checklist. You need to know in detail how you will finish the sale of your home. This should provide a step-by-step procedure that will be easy to understand and follow.

As long as you have the following things and are comfortable with your choice in Realtor there is no reason that your home will not sell in a reasonable amount of time and for a price that is befitting of your property.