Drive around your neighborhood and look around. See whose name is on most of the signs, especially those that say sold or pending.
- Talk to the agent in person by going to an open house;
- Watch how the agent interacts with potential buyers;
- Do an online search of the agent’s name and see if you can find reviews;
- Ask trustworthy friends and neighbors for a referral;
- Find out if they are a full-time agent or part-time;
- Ask what homes they are representing now;
Ask the agent the following questions:
- How will you arrive at your suggested list price;
- Will you also represent the buyer;
- How will you market my home;
- What are my homes selling features;
- How will the buyer be vetted;
- What should I do to get my home ready for selling;
- What is your commission and is it negotiable;
- How many homes have you sold;
- Will I be working with you alone or with a team;
- How long are homes typically on the market;
- How long is the seller’s agreement for;
- How often do you obtain a sales price close to the listing price;
- What percentage of your Pendings fail to close;
- How often are we in contact and what time of day are you available to answer my calls.