Selecting Your Agent

7 Questions to ask the Agent 

Are you full-time or part time?
Part time agents can be skilled marketers, but they have other commitments that can limit their responsiveness.  You’ll want someone who lives and breathes real estate

How long have you been practicing?
In a soft market, you’ll probably want someone who has been full-time for at least five to seven years.

What is your business structure; individual or group agent?  If a group agent, how is the team set up?  Who will you be in contact with during the transaction?
Real Estate is a tough business for an individual agent.  Pulled from many directions, one has to balance the needs of his current buyers and sellers, let alone the needs of his personal life.  However, a group agent set up also can come with challenges.  Some agents have evolved into what we call Mega Agents and function more like a company within the company.  At times, they might be pulled in just as many directions due to the large volume that they need to sell in order to keep the machine going.

How will you find me buyers?
This is a big one.  Sure there’s the MLS, for sale signs, flyer boxes and newspaper ads.  But will the agent showcase your home to the biggest possible buyer universe.  Does the agent advertise on less conventional Internet sites and real estate publications?  Send out regular mailings?  Conduct a brokers’ open house in addition to regular open houses?

How accessible are you?
You will want to know what hours the agent can be reached and how often the agent checks messages and emails.  Plus you will want to know who else can be contacted during the process

What geographic areas do you cover?
Some agents take listings all over the metro area.  Ideally, you want someone who is an experienced and knowledgeable in a specific part of town and who can provide you with regular market updates, a wide variety of comparable homes, and the latest pricing strategies specific to your area.

What percentage of the homes you listed in the past year has sold?  What percentage of your business comes from listings vs. buyers?
It was easier selling homes a few years ago.  But now it requires extra effort to get results.  You want an agent who works with both buyers and sellers and knows what buyers are looking for in your price range.