If you are in the market to sell your home, you have an important
decision to make; what real estate agent you will work with. Real estate
agents and brokers are plentiful, and most are competent in the
business, but only a few stand out as a top realtor-those who are able
to get homes sold no matter what the market conditions.

The first thing to look for in a quality real estate
broker is their availability. This is often overlooked, but very
important. The sad fact is that some realtors are very difficult to
reach, while others are nearly always accessible to their clients. Most
people prefer to pick one from the latter group, because you want to
know that they are there and available to answer any questions or
concerns that come up.

A real estate agent that is available will
also be a full-time agent. Avoid part-timers who only do their ‘real
estate gig’ on the weekends while working another job during the week.
These type of realtors will almost never have the level of commitment
they need to have to get your home sold.

The next thing to think
about is compatibility. In other words, can you work with this guy or
gal? After all, this is one of the most important (if not the most
important) investments of your life. It’s crucial that you find a
realtor that you are on the same page with.

If you’re not sure
about someone, a good way to learn more about them is to ask them for
referrals, then take the time to call them. Often times, previous
clients can give you some good insight into what kind of person you’re
dealing with and how they go about selling a home. If you like what
others say about them, chances are you will like working with them.

While
availability and compatibility are important, they’re only part of the
equation. And the other part is competence. A lot goes into the overall
heading of competence. We’re talking about expertise and experience
combined with strong marketing and negotiating skills.

When it
comes to marketing, you need a realtor that’s not just doing the ‘same
old same old’ that every other agent is doing. In today’s market, you
need someone who is aggressive and thinks outside the box. You want a
real estate broker that is creative in their approach to marketing and
is always willing to try new strategies in order to gain an edge over
the competition.

Negotiating skills will come in handy when it
comes time to haggle with the buyer. During this period, you want
someone on your side that is proven to be skilled in the art of
negotiating. If you talked with past clients, they will often be able to
tell you what their experience was like and whether or not the agent
negotiated competently on their behalf. You can also get a good sense
for their skills by finding out what kind of commission structure they
negotiated for themselves with the company they represent. If you find a
real estate agent that keeps the lion’s share of his/her commissions,
then you know you’ve probably found a winner.