Everywhere you look there are advertisements for real estate agents. So how can you tell the good agents from the not so good agents? Here are 8 things you should ask your agent before you hire them. Good agents want you to ask these hard questions, because good agents can answer them.

 

Experience is everything. Everything. In this ligitious day and age, and with the price of homes as they are today, it is no place for rookies, newbies or people lacking experience. You pay relatively the same for representation, so you should expect the best. Ask your agent how many listings or sales do they average every year and how much experience they have negotiating contracts.

 

Not all real estate agents are Realtors. Members of the National Association of Realtors have to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and Professional Standards of Practice, or face disciplinary actions. So you can be assured that if your real estate agent is a Realtor, you are working with someone of integrity and accountability. Realtors are typically better prepared, better trained, and more committed to their profession. With the element of accountability, they have to be.

 

Certified Residential Specialists (CRS) require advanced training and have required experience qualifications. When you work with a CRS, you are working with someone committed and dedicated to their profession and to their clients, experienced and competent in their field, and a person of quality and integrity. A CRS in real estate is like a CPA versus an accountant. Or the difference between an BA and an MA. It's your assurance you are working you are working with the elite of the industry. Don't just hire an agent, hire a CRS.

 

All good Realtors prepare marketing plans uniquely designed for the property they intend to list. The marketing plan can vary greatly depending on market conditions, condition of the property, and the motivation of the sellers themselves. Ask your Realtor for the marketing plan personalized to your property.

 

It costs money to market a home effectively. Depending on the market conditions it can cost a lot. Any agent who is not prepared to give you a percentage or dollar amount they plan to spend on your home, should never be hired. Because what most sellers don't realize is that these expenses and costs are incurred by the agent not the company. So make them give you a written budget in conjunction with their marketing plan and hold them accountable to it.

 

Good buyer's agents will have given their clients a written questionaire of their wants and needs in a home, then take that wish list with them to preview homes that will work for them. Otherwise, the buyer's agent is taking the lazy way, providing minimal service and showing you what they want you to see, not necessarily what you want to see. Ask your aent if they will actually visit the home prior to showing it to you. Many agents today sit in their office at search the MLS or internet, just like you, to determine what they will show you. Previewing homes is time consuming and can be expensive, but it is what quality buyer agents do, because like people some houses are photogenic and some are not. And pictures never tell the whole story. What is not in the picture can many times be more important.