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Finding an AgentIn selecting an agent, look for someone who you can trust, who will be honest with you. The guy with the big numbers may or may not be. Look for experience. Be sure he or she knows the real estate business, and has been in the business successfully for several years. If you are selling a home, give preference to agents who know your neighborhood and have successfully sold other homes in the neighborhood. Use someone who exudes professionalism. This may or may not be your friend who is a Realtor. Your agent is an extension of you. If your agent comes across as a slick used car salesperson, you and your home will be judged accordingly. If your agent is straightforward and professional both in dress and attitude, both you and your home will be taken more seriously. Ask others who have used agents. Who they liked...and why. Who they disliked...and why. Look for an agent who is flexible, and who can tell you exactly what he or she will do to sell your home, whatever that may be. If your home does not sell, it will prevent disagreements over whether or not the agent did all they could. Consider the compensation structure of the agents company, if you are aware of it. Some agents work for firms that have such extensive overhead that they have to produce a zillion deals to make a living. This causes them to be more likely to apply the hard sell, and to be "agent-driven" rather than "client-driven." Look for someone who can provide you with patient, customer service--but be reasonable in your expectations. Don't expect them to be at your beck and call or to visit your home daily, either. Last but definitely not least, look for someone who knows how to use technology to your advantage. Computers, cellular phones, pagers, home offices, executive suites all have combined to allow the real estate community an avenue for serving your needs better. Be sure your agent understands and uses this technology, particularly if you are in a major metropolitan area or higher-end, high-tech professionals-oriented neighborhood where most buyers and sellers are relying on technology to perform their jobs. In these environments, agents who "get it" are far more effective than those who don't. Look for an agent who will grant you personal service not normally found among top producing agents. Customer service is important. AL | AL | AZ | AR | CA | CO | CT | DE | D.C. | FL | GA | HI | ID | IL | IN | IA| KN | KY | |LA | |ME | MD | MA | MI | MN | MI | MO | MT | NE | NV | NH | NJ | NM | NY | NC | ND | OH | OK | OR | PA | RI | SC | SD | TN | TX | UT | VT | VA | WA | WV | WI | WY (C) 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002. 2003 , 2004 RealtySeek
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