In
many markets, getting a house sold is tough these days. Since the
market topped out in 2006-2007, it’s been tough going for anyone trying
to get their homes sold. But despite the poor market conditions, homes
are still selling. People are still moving around, and when they do they
often need to change houses. In a market like this, what really makes
the difference is working with a top real estate agent.

There
certain characteristics that can be indicative of a top realtor that
you should be aware of. Here are four ‘must haves’ before you even
consider working with the real estate agent you are considering:

They MUST be full time

This
is pretty much a ‘no-brainer’, but still worth pointing out. When you
are contracting with a real estate broker to sell what is likely your
largest investment, you don’t want someone who just does this ‘real
estate thing’ as a sideline. You want someone who is a seasoned
professional and does this as a full time career. This indicates that
he/she has experienced some level of success in the business, and is not
just playing around with it on weekends.

They must be members of the National Association of Realtors

Here’s
another thing that should almost be a given, but something many
consumers fail to check. Is the realtor under consideration a member of
the nation’s premiere real estate trade group? If not, you need to
seriously question their commitment to their business. To eliminate
those who are just ‘pretenders’, make sure you work with someone who has
taken the basic step of becoming a member of the National Association
of Realtors.

They must know your neighborhood

One
of the biggest questions you need answered when finding a top realtor
is how much familiarity they have with your community. Some people make
the mistake of using a real estate broker based on the other side of
town simply because they know them or are referred to them by someone
else. Now, there’s certainly nothing wrong with working with someone you
know or someone who was recommended to you by someone you know, but
it’s far more important to find someone that knows your area. A realtor
that understands your neighborhood will be far more likely to price your
home properly, which is one of the biggest factors in getting it sold
in a timely manner.

They must have an effective marketing plan

This
one is critical, and really what separates the elites in the industry
from the majority; marketing. A top realtor knows how to do it. A second
tier realtor doesn’t. The truth is, most real estate agents rely only
on conventional marketing techniques like MLS listings, flyers, open
houses, maybe a newspaper ad or two, and that’s about it. In today’s
market, relying only on standard marketing tactics is not nearly enough
to get your home the traffic of prospective buyers it needs. You need a
real estate broker that uses ‘out of the box’ marketing/advertising,
both online and offline, designed to generate more interest in your home
and ultimately get it sold quicker for a higher price, which of course
is your ultimate objective.