How to Choose a Real Estate Agent to Sell a House

Selling a home can be a grueling experience - and a good real estate agent can make the whole process a lot easier.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Recommendations

1. Ask for recommendations from people who have just sold a home in your area, or call a local real estate office and speak to the manager; ask the manager to recommend an agent who specializes in your type of property and community.
2. Invite the agent to your home for an introductory meeting. Since you will be spending a lot of time with this person, it's a good idea to establish trust and a solid working relationship early on.
3. Put together an information sheet that lists your home's features and best qualities, especially those that people might otherwise overlook. Give this to the agent, who can use the information to write an attractive listing to help sell your home.
4. Ask the agent how he or she would establish a price and promote your home.
5. If you are unsatisfied with the agent's plan or personality, graciously thank the agent for taking the time to meet with you, and repeat the process with another agent.
6. If you are happy with the agent, make a commitment to yourself to stick with him or her; it can be time-consuming to jump from agent to agent.

Tips & Warnings

• The real estate office can tell a lot about the agent you'll be working with. Is the office attractive and organized-looking? Is it easily accessible and open 7 days a week? Is the agency a member of a multiple-listing service - that is, are its listings available to all other agents and their buyers?
• Remember that the agent doesn't have the final word - you do. Don't let your agent pressure or hurry you into making careless decisions.