Interview at least three local agents who sell homes in your community. Ask them about the following:
- The worth of your home – The agents should inspect the home and prepare a written comparative market analysis.
- Marketing plans – These are a must. Make sure they include the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS)—which gives your home maximum exposure to all local agents—and internet marketing through the agents’ websites and other online forums.
- Length of the listing agreement – There are circumstances that are entirely market-specific for which a longer listing period will be appropriate. Ask the agents what is the best length of agreement for you.
- Number of listings – Find out how many listings the agents now have and how many they normally sell. Too many listings—more than a dozen—with a low sales rate may not be a good sign.
- Get references – Ask for the names and phone numbers of recent home sellers. Call them and ask if they were satisfied with the level of service delivered by the agents.
