Question 1: Do I really need an agent?
The main task of real estate agents is to list and sell the homes of their clients. That is the reason why people hire real estate agents. Buildings that are being sold without agent are known as For Sale By Owners, or FSBOs. Such owners market and sell their homes themselves. However, there are few people who sell without marketing their homes. Mostly it happens when home is transfered to family members or landlords who directly offer tenants the first right to purchase property before they place it for sale on the market.
In the end, most FSBOs eventually hire an agent as he/she will handle all the details of a successful home sale, including the contract, forms, and disclosure statements and expose the home to the widest range of prospective buyers.
Question 2: How do I find the right agent for me?
Start your search on the local level. Find someone who is very familiar with your neighborhood and the properties for sale in it.
As you want to present your home to the widest possible circle of people, you can prefer a real estate firm that works with other agencies to get your property sold. Beyond these parameters, choose a candidate who is competent, efficient, and ethical. Perhaps the agent who first sold you your home would be a perfect candidate. You may ask your family, friends, and neighbors for recommendations, or choose a firm headed by an individual who is known in your community.
Question 3: What questions should I ask an agent interested in selling my home?
To choose the estate agent that will fit you the best, interview at least three local agents who sell homes in your community. Ask them such questions:
°°° The value of your home. The agents should inspect the home and prepare a written comparative market analysis.
°°° Marketing plan. It is obligatory. Regular newspaper ads, the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS), Internet marketing through the agent’s Web site etc. must be included in that plan. These recourses will give your home maximum exposure to all local agents.
°°° Length of the listing agreement. A 90-day listing is reasonable for marketing your home. Experts advise to avoid signing a listing for more than 90 days unless it contains an unconditional cancellation clause. If you like, you can always extend the contract later.
°°° Number of listings. If the agent has already more than a dozen listings or he/she has a low sales rate, may be he/she is not a good candidate.
°°° Get references. Ask the recent home sellers if they were satisfied with the level of service delivered by the agent.
| 
