How To Evaluate An Agent

Without any obligation, you can invite local Realtors to visit your home and give you a listing presentation about why they're the best ones to market it for you. Two to three presentations will probably give you a good opportunity for choice. A listing presentation includes having the Realtors review with you the reasons why you should list with that particular individual, and providing you with information that will assist you in making initial decisions about selling your home. Recent laws in every state have defined the duties of someone specifically retained as a real estate agent. Most states require a real estate agent to explain his or her role at the outset of any conversation. A professional agent will promptly provide this such a disclosure.

Look for an agent who:

• Is a member of the local board or association of Realtors
• Explains and discloses agency relationships [the role of the agent, i.e., who they are representing - the buyer or the seller] early on in the process at "serious first contact."
• Advises you on how to prepare your home for the market
• Shows some enthusiasm for your property, listens attentively, instills confidence, operates in a professional manner, and has a complimentary personality style to yours.
• Has research your property in the public records and the MLS.
• Brings data on nearby homes that have sold [or failed to sell] recently.

The following are important questions to ask a potential agent:

• Are you a Realtor?
• Do you have an active real estate license in good standing? To check this information, you can check with your state's governing agency.
• Do you belong to the Multiple Listing Service [MLS] and /or a reliable online homebuyer's search service? Multiple Listing services are cooperative information networks of Realtors that provide descriptions of most of the houses for sale in a particular regions. If there's a nearby MLS, how often do you cooperate with other local brokers on a sale?
• What have you listed or sold in this neighborhood lately?
• Do you cooperate with buyer's brokers?
• What share of the commission with you offer a cooperating broker who finds the buyers?

And in addition to the criteria mentioned above, there are a number of very important reasons you will typically prefer to work with a Realtor. Among them is the fact that they adhere to the NAR's highest standards of ethical conduct and professional training.