How to hire a realtor? Home Staging Cost part 3 of 4

Okay, now that you have cleaned, prepped and had your home staged.  You have had a appraisal from an independent appraiser so you know what your home is worth and you have checked out the comparable in your neighborhood.  Now its time to put the for sale sign in front of the house.   What do you look for in a Real Estate Agent?  I have bought 7 and sold 6 homes and have lots of stories about various agents.   You want an agent that dresses properly, call me old fashion but it tell me a lot about their dedication to their business.  You are hiring them, they should respect you and what you want done.  Hire a professional photographer, gosh I can not tell you how important that is. Open Houses insist on it!   Contact us for our picks of realtors  http://harmonizehomes.com/contact/

If you missed part one and part two click on links.

Talk with recent clients

Ask the real estate person that you are interviewing for a list of their clients that you can call to check on their references.   Ask them what their listing price was and what their selling price was.    Another good question to ask is how long was your house on the market?

Look up the licensing

States will have boards that license and discipline real estate agents.. Check with your state's regulatory body to find out if a prospective agent is licensed and if there have been any disciplinary actions or complaints. The information may be posted online.

Pick a winner

Peer given awards such as the Realtor of the Year Award.  Agents are best at judging their peers.

Select an agent with the right credentials

Doctors have specialties, and so do real estate agents. Even generalists will get additional training in some areas. So, the alphabet soup after an agent's name can be an indication that the person has taken additional classes in a certain category of real estate sales. Here's what some of the designations mean:

• CRS (Certified Residential Specialist): Completed additional training in handling residential real estate.
• ABR (Accredited Buyer's Representative): Completed additional education in representing buyers in transactions.
• SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist): Completed training aimed at helping buyers and sellers in the 50-plus age range.

Research how long the agent has been in business

Ultimately, what you're looking for is someone who is actively engaged in a particular area and price range. You'll want an agent to demonstrate knowledge of the area and homes in your range and show what kind of market presence they have. 

Look at their current listings

Check out an agent's listings online.  Make sure that their listings are using professional photographers.  You don't want agents using their cell phones or I pads which happen to me at one of my homes.   Places to look include the agency's own website and sites such as Realtor.com, which offer a searchable online database of properties in the Multiple Listing Service.
Most buyers start their search on the internet, and you want an agent who uses that tool effectively One important key is what their own website looks like and their agencies.
Look at how closely the agent's listings mirror the property you want to buy or sell. Are they in the same area? Is the price range similar? And does the agent have enough listings to indicate a healthy business but not so many that you'd just be a number?

Ask about other houses for sale nearby

A good agent should know about other area properties that are available off the top of his head.  Mention a house in your area that's sold recently or is for sale. If the agent knows the property and can give you a few details, that means he or she really knows your area, he says. You want someone like that, who's on top of the market.

References:

National Association of Realtors
How to vet a Real Estate Agent

Harmonizing Homes for our realtor picks