How to choose the right real estate agent

When buying a home, one very important consideration is to find a realtor capable of selling your present home for the best possible price. How do you find such a person?

• Take note of For Sale signs in your neighborhood as well as the realtor ads on bus benches and in community newsletters. These are the ones who have a long term commitment in your area.
• Ask friends who've recently sold in the area if they would recommend the realtor they used.
• Eliminate any realtors who don't specialize in selling your type of home from the list.
• Eliminate any realtors who don't have access to sophisticated lead and referral networks. These realtors will not be able to provide the best available services.
• Verify the reputation of the remaining realtors on your list with your local real estate board and the president of your local community association.
• Interview several of the names on your list. Ask about their sales results in the area and request testimonials from recent clients. Expect them to do a market evaluation and provide you with the strategy they will use to market your home.

The time you spend shopping for a realtor will pay off in the results achieved in the end.