Last week we took a look at selected characteristics – reputation, knowledge, experience and professionalism – that an ideal real estate agent should possess.  Maybe it’s time to be a little more specific and consider criteria that might be helpful in the choosing an agent to list and sell your home.  If you want it sold quickly and at the highest value, you’ll want to work with a seasoned professional.

In most instances, the listing agent serves as a Designated Agent for the Seller and has a legal obligation to look out for the best interests of the seller.  Trust and integrity are important, but so are the basic skills required to list and sell your home.  Whether you chose to interview one or several agents before selecting the right fit, there are several things that you’ll want to consider.

Asking how long the agent has been in real estate is a good place to start.  In a difficult market you should look for an experienced agent with a strong track record. Why not follow-up by asking about recent performance?  Most agents should be more than willing to discuss results such as sales vs. price ratios, average days-on-market and number of current listings or sales per month.  You certainly won’t want to rely solely on this information to make your choice, but it may be a reflection of your prospective agent’s knowledge and full-time commitment to selling homes.

Every agent should be willing to share a marketing plan and explain the various tools he or she will use to prep and market your home.  Ideally, they will have a proven process for making your home “market ready” which may including staging your home for stronger appeal to the target buyer.  Marketing plans should include an explanation of online and media resources, as well as networking that the agent will engage on your behalf.  Depending on the type and price range of the property being listed, there may be advantages to working with an agent from a real estate brokerage (company) that has national exposure.

You may want to consider an agent that has a specialization or niche marketing experience that will benefit your situation.  This could be in the form of home preparation and staging, as mentioned above, or possibly include unique training to deal with stressful financial situations, including divorces, bankruptcies or foreclosures. Additionally, it may be helpful to know if the agent has been approved to work with relocation companies.

While all of the criteria we’ve discussed are important, maybe none is more important than selecting an agent who will work diligently on your behalf and communicate on a regular basis.  It is unreasonable to expect daily progress calls, but a good listing agent will keep you informed of prospective buyer feedback on a regular basis.  Above all, they will do everything possible to negotiate an acceptable offer from a ready, willing and able buyer.

Originally posted November 23, 2008