Choosing the right real estate agent to sell your home will be the most important decision you will make. Here are a list of things you would want to find out when making your decision.

1. Are you a full-time professional real estate agent? How long have you worked full time in real estate?  Knowing whether or not your agent practices full time can help you determine potential scheduling conflicts and his or her commitment to your transaction. As with any profession, the number of years a person has been in the business does not necessarily reflect the level of service you can expect, but it is a good starting point for your discussion.
2. Will you personally be handling the sale of my home from beginning to end or do you have a personal assistant, team or staff to handle different parts of the purchase? Do not choose an agent that will hand off the sale of your home to a part time staffer sitting in his or her office. There are many agents that work in “teams” whereby the agent you hire does not see your sale through from start to finish.
3. Do you have a Website that will list my home? Can I have your URL address? Do you get all the leads on muy home or do they go to someone else in your office or on your team? What’s your email address? Many buyers prefer to search online for homes because it’s available 24 hours a day and can be done at home. So you want to make sure your home is listed online, either on the agent’s Website or on their company’s site. By searching your agent’s Website you will get a clear picture of how much information is available online.
4. How will you keep in contact with me during the selling process, and how often? Some agents may email, fax or call you daily to tell you that visitors have toured your home, while others will keep in touch weekly. Asking this question can help you to reconcile your needs with your agent’s systems.
5. What do you do that other agents don’t that ensures I’m getting top dollar for my home? What is your average market time versus other agents’ average market time?
6. Will you give me names of past clients?  Contacting references can be a reliable way for you to understand how he or she works, and whether or not this style is compatible with your own
7. How are your fees structured? May I have that in writing? Be aware of the big picture before you sign any agreements. Ask for an estimate of costs from any agent you contemplate employing.
8. How would you develop pricing strategies for our home?  Although location and condition affect the selling process, price is the primary factor in determining if a home sells quickly, or at all. Access to current property information as well as being knowledgeable of the town is essential. Ask your agent how they created the market analysis.
9. What will you do to sell my home? Who determines where and when my home is marketed/ promoted? Who pays for your advertising? If there are other forms of marketing available but not specified in the plan ask who pays for those.