How do I know if I am choosing the right listing agent?

Selling your home can be stressful, even in the best of circumstances. That is why it’s very important to find an agent to work with who you trust and feel comfortable with.

Here are a few questions I suggest people ask themselves when evaluating an agent to list their home:

Is communication easy with the agent?

It should be because you will want regular feedback regarding marketing initiatives, the feedback from agents and buyers after showings and open houses. You should also be able to ask questions about the marketing and selling process and get clear answers. If your communication is “off” that can make the whole process more difficult.

Will the agent represent your home in the best possible light?

You want to have an agent that is skillful in presenting your home. One way to see how a prospective agent represents a home is by going to one of the open houses that they host. By doing so, you get to see firsthand how they respond to buyers. Are they walking through and pointing out all the wonderful aspects of the house? Are they knowledgeable about the property?

Do they have a plan for selling your home?

By knowing the steps and process up front, it will alleviate a lot of stress. Ideally, any plan takes into consideration your family’s needs for showing availability and open houses and a strategy if the house doesn’t sell in a certain time period. Also, make sure the agent and their firm have the marketing and networking resource to give your property maximum exposure.

Finally, what is your gut feeling?

Try not to let numbers in a listing presentation — the agent’s sales volume for instance — supersede other important factors such as whether you feel comfortable and have a certain level of trust in the agent.