Thinking about selling?  Complete the seller consultation form to set up a time to meet.

Finding the right real estate agent can make all the difference in the success or failure of your home sale.

Selling a home involves many critical and personal decisions. However, one of the most important is the first decision you need to make - one that impacts your entire home sale:

Which real estate agent should you work with?

Unfortunately, many people make this decision based on the idea that all real estate agents are basically the same. They sign with the first agent to come along, only to realize too late that they should have shopped around.

Tommy has been serving the real estate needs of communities in the Madison and Limestone County areas for over 25 years. He is a full-time, full service REALTOR who goes the extra mile to satisfy a customer. Tommy has built a successful career and reputation by helping people like you!

By asking the following questions you will be able to select a Realtor who is right for you:

• Could you send me some information about yourself?
• How do you approach your work?
• How long have you been in the business and what was your background before real estate?
• What professional organizations do you belong to?
• Do you have a personal assistant or other support staff working for you?
• Do you have any questions for me?
• What marketing approach will you use for my home?
• Will you produce a flier or brochure for my home and what will it look like?
• Are you going to help me in staging my home?
• What listing price do you recommend for my home and what is that price based on?
• Can you provide me with further resources that I may need?
• Can you give me some references from other clients you have worked with?
• What are the brokerage fees I will be paying and what other fees or charges do I need to be aware of?
• How will you determine the qualification of potential buyers?
• What happens if my home doesn't sell in the allotted time or if I decide not to sell my home?
• How will the agent make my property stand out in today's market?

Could you send me some information about yourself?

You can often get a good idea of which agents are most professional and most committed by looking at their personal marketing materials - web sites, brochures, direct mail, listing presentation book, etc.

Request information before you actually meet with them for a listing presentation. When you get the personal brochure or other materials, look them over and determine your initial impression of the person.

If the materials presented are not professional, you might ask yourself, "If they don't have the wherewithal to properly market themselves, how will they market my home?"

Keep track of how quickly and efficiently they respond to your request for information. Are they friendly and helpful or just pushy and hungry for a listing?

Does this seem like someone you'd be interested in talking with? if they aren't organized and professional enough to respond promptly to your first request for more about them, they'll probably handle potential buyers for your home the same way.

If you like the way they respond to you and are impressed with the information they supply, call them and invite them to make a listing presentation.

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How do you approach your work?

What you should be looking for, first and foremost, is an honest and knowledgeable individual, who works full-time, represents a solid and reputable real estate agency, and will treat your best interests as paramount. Length of time in the business, track record of success, previous experience, expertise in and knowledge of the local real estate market - all of these are factors to consider.

While the right agent to market your home may not be number one in every aspect, you want to make sure that the person you hire is a well-rounded individual whom you can trust and respect as a professional.

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How long have you been in the business and what was your background before real estate?

An agent may have been a licensed real estate professional for 15 years, but only selling part-time and never really an active seller - maybe only handling one or two transactions per year.

Whereas another agent may have only become licensed one or two years ago, but has a background in real estate finance, worked in real estate law for a number of years or has been a private real estate investor and has bought and sold more than 20 homes himself in the last ten years.

Either way, you need to find someone who has an in-depth knowledge of the legal ins and outs of the business as well as the characteristics of the local market, and has demonstrated competence and professionalism in getting homes sold.

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What professional organizations do you belong to?

The minimum here should be a fully-licensed professional who's a member of the local real estate board and multiple listing service as well as the State and National Association of Realtors.

Local community groups and business associations may also be pluses in terms of networking and insight into the community. However, make sure your agent is focused on what's important - selling your home.

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Do you have a personal assistant or other support staff working for you?

Some agents employ an assistant or staff. This doesn't necessarily mean better service, but it can be an indicator that the agent treats selling real estate as a business.

By employing someone to handle the small details, he or she can devote more time to serving your needs.

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Do you have any questions for me?

In the interview, look for an agent who asks pointed, specific questions, not someone who's just filling in blanks on a form.

That's the sign of someone who is already thinking about your situation and is creating a plan of action specifically for you rather than just using a cookie-cutter approach for every client.

Make sure you feel comfortable being around this person - you will be relying on his or her expertise.

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What marketing approach will you use for my home?

Despite having the same basic marketing tools at their disposal - Multiple Listing Service, tours, fliers and brochures, internet, for sale signs, MLS lock boxes, public open houses, advertising, direct mail and personal networking - every real estate professional has a different marketing strategy. Even agents within the same company have different methods.

Learn each agent's marketing philosophy, and determine what will work for you.

Make sure the agent you choose doesn't rely on the same marketing approach used five years ago. What worked for yesterday's seller may not get the results you want. The key is to find an agent who will use all the tools available to your best advantage.

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Will you produce a flier or brochure for my home and what will it look like?

Take a careful look at the materials the agent has produced to market their current listings. Do the quality, design and wording of the materials seem to present each home in the best light?

Put yourself in a potential buyer's shoes: Would you be interested in the homes after seeing these materials?

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Are you going to help me in staging my home?

Preparing a property for sale, or staging it, is very important in maximizing the value and minimizing the time on the market. If a prospective agent does not mention this aspect of the sale on his own during the listing presentation, he probably has no plan to offer this service to you. Or he may be afraid of bringing it up for fear of offending you by telling you about negative aspects of your home that should be changed - or positives that need to be highlighted - to increase its appeal to potential buyers.

A confident and competent agent will find ways of broaching the subject and will let you know of specific ideas - beyond baking bread and putting out fresh flowers for house showings - to make your home more sellable.

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What listing price do you recommend for my home and what is that price based on?

Pricing your home is the most critical step to selling it, and you should choose a REALTOR who has the knowledge to help you price your home wisely. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Don't go with a "yes man" who will promise a high price in order to get your listing - your home may languish on the market.

Don't let an agent talk you into an artificially low price designed simply to sell as fast as possible.

Do have each agent justify the price through comparable properties and facts about the market.

The selling price should attract prospective buyers to your home, get you top dollar in the current market and reflect the condition of your house. Be realistic. A good REALTOR will be honest with you about the value of your home and have the cold, hard facts to justify that value - both to you and to prospective buyers.

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Can you provide me with further resources that I may need?

Most agents work with a team of professionals in many fields, including title, law, mortgage, home inspection, pest control, carpet cleaning, etc. While you are not obligated to work with an agent's team, often you may find it is the optimum way to go.

The best agents have built strong relationships with their "teams," and can often get expedient service or be able to "cash in a favor" for your transaction should a time crunch or problem arise.

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Can you give me some references from other clients you have worked with?

Don't be afraid to ask for references. This is not confidential information, even though many sellers would never think to ask for it. However, any agent who provides good service and is proud of his or her work will be happy to provide references.

If possible, contact a few of these references directly. Check to see how well the situations described by these previous clients fit your situation, particularly if you have a complex transaction or special circumstance that requires specific expertise.

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What are the brokerage fees I will be paying and what other fees or charges do I need to be aware of?

Because brokerage fees are not fixed or set by law, they are negotiable and you should weigh the merits of each agent's fee versus the benefits he or she provides. However, whether you pay a fee that is higher or lower than average, you generally get what you pay for.

Especially beware of agents who are willing up front to take a reduction in their commission. It may well mean that they never intend to spend much time, effort or money in selling your home.

Title insurance, closing costs and prorated insurance, taxes, rent, home owner's association dues, etc. - the individual circumstances of your transaction and the needs of your buyer will all impact your final financial obligation. Be sure your agent reviews all costs that may be incurred so that you'll be prepared.

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How will you determine the qualification of potential buyers?

Ask what procedures the agent will use to make sure you don't waste any time dealing with dead-end offers or deals that can't be closed.

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What happens if my home doesn't sell in the allotted time or if I decide not to sell my home?

Much of the answer to this question should be spelled out in the listing agreement. Make sure your agent goes over every part of it with you.

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How will the agent make my property stand out in today's market?

With the number of properties on the market today, what is the agent going to do to make yours stand out!

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