1. Excellent Communication Skills

Find a REALTOR® that you can contact in numerous ways when you have questions and concerns. Active REALTOR® are rarely at their desks. It is a bad sign if you are developing an intimate relationship with your Realtor’s answering machine. Responsive. Make sure you work with someone who returns calls/emails in a timely fashion. There is nothing more aggravating than calling about a house, or an offer, and not hearing back for three or four days. If a Realtor is ‘too busy’ to return your call within 24 hours, they are probably too busy to properly represent you. Get someone who listens to you. Is the Realtor asking you about what you want or are they trying to sell you what they have? Realtors work on commission. Often they will encourage you to purchase a more expensive home than you want if they know you qualify. Realtors are salespeople. It is common for salespeople to assert themselves in conversation to the extent that it becomes a monologue.

The agent should listen carefully to your wants, needs, dreams and desires, asking questions that reveal the motivation and impetus underlying your objectives. Realtors, who ask a lot of questions, and focus on what YOU want, are more likely to help you achieve your goals.

Don’t call your agent after 8 p.m. unless it is an emergency or you have an appointment. Whereas it is a 24/7 occupation, Realtors have families, hobbies, extracurricular activities and errands too.

2. Experienced and well-versed of the area

1.  How long have you been practicing as a real estate agent?
2.  Have long are you practicing as a REALTOR® in my (specified) area?
3.  Can I cancel my home listing at some point of time? What if I am not satisfied?
4.  Are you connected to a trusted firms or professionals such as lender, attorneys, etc?
5. What is the average time span that you can sell a home from the day it was listed?

3. Full-time or real estate hobbyist?

Ask prospective Realtors if they work full time. Many people sell real estate as a hobby or for supplemental income. A seasoned agent, who actively seeks and views new properties every week, stays more in tune with the market. A Realtor working full time is available to you when you are in need. They are investing the time necessary to resolve problems that crop up during negotiations and inspections, as well as any issues that occur after the closing. By hiring a full time Realtor, you insure that their attention and services are full time.

4. Market savvy

Having a knowledgeable Realtor is an advantage to buyers and sellers. You are looking for a person that is a specialist in your market. Do not hesitate to ask for their statistics. Where is their office located? Are they familiar with the neighborhood that interests you? How many homes have they bought or sold there in the last 12 months? How many properties do they currently have under contract? How many homes have they sold that are similar to yours? Do they specialize in a certain price range? A Realtor with consistent sales in a community has market insight that can save you money. Your Realtor should be a walking, talking neighborhood directory of pertinent, and useful, information. They should be able to assist you in locating service technicians, a great salon or a pet-sitter. They should know the neighborhood’s history, the trends associated with it and where the locals grab a beer on Friday. They should be able to tell you what the average home sold for in the neighborhood and what comparable homes are listed for. They should be able to explain discrepancies in value. You should look for a Realtor who has extensive information about the neighborhood: what school districts are good, zoning restrictions, the local density of sex offenders, which hospitals are close, commuting alternatives, recreational options, proximity to shopping, which neighborhoods are up-and-coming and which are rife with crime.

5. Tech savvy

Top agents utilize technology to its fullest to help them stay informed and to communicate with their clients. E-mail, smart phones, electronic newsletters, websites, digital photography and video allow agents to share properties that they’ve previewed, provide feedback and keep clients updated on developments. Competence in technology affects agent performance. The internet is a powerful resource for buyers and sellers. The National Association of Realtors reported that 50% of home buyers look for property on the internet. If you are a seller, you need to have your listing and photos online. If you are a buyer, you need to search the MLS and FSBO listings. All real estate transactions are funneled through technology in some capacity. What is your Realtor’s marketing plan (newspapers, magazines, a sign in the yard, online listings, etc.)? Check how your Realtor ranks in search listings for your neighborhood via one of the online search engines, i.e. Google, Realtor.com and Yahoo. Look at their listings for other properties. How easy is it to find their listings? How easy is it to navigate their website? Are the properties presented in an aesthetically pleasing, professional manner?