It's important to know that your chosen Real Estate Representative is a "Full-Time" Realtor. Ask your interviewee's if they are full-time, and if they are a Realtor (a member of the National Association of Realtors). A full time Realtor is committed not only to the real estate business, but to the sale of your house. Full-time Realtors generally have been successful in the business for quite some time and understand what it takes to get your home sold. The "Realtor" desigation means that the person with that title has been through various education requirements as well as ethics training. Realtors follow a strong code of ethics as well as specialize in practicing real estate.

2. What online tools will your Realtor use to advertise your house?

There are over 2 million people looking for houses on the internet. Make sure your Realtor and their company have an adequate web presence, i.e. a personal webpage, a Realtor.com presence, national webpage and more. Find out how your home will be advertised on these various sites as well as the MLS (Multiple Listing Service). As a seller you want your home exposed to all potential home buyers.

3. How often will your Realtor contact you during the sales process?

The sales process can be stressful for sellers if they aren't constantly up-to-date on the sales process. Make sure your agent describes, in detail, the entire sales process and what you can expect as a seller. Find out if your Realtor regularly schedules weekly meetings with you, the seller, to discuss current market trends, the activity of your home, showing feedback, and marketing plans. This will ensure that both you and your Realtor are dedicated to the sale of your home.

4. What is your Realtor's complete marketing plan?

Most Realtors have a scheduled marketing plan for all sellers. Find out exactly what your Realtors marketing plan is and see if you can get a copy in writing. There are many tools Realtors use to market a home, and all of these tools combined are what leads to a sale. Getting a copy of the marketing plan in writing allows you, the seller, to preview what the Realtor has in mind and determine if that is satisfactory. It also gives you a timeline of when your house will be advertised where. This also helps the Realtor stay on track.

5. How did your Realtor price your home?

All Realtors should compile a Comparative Market Analysis (or CMA) to figure out the asking price of your home. The CMA calls on data from the MLS database system, and includes information about recent sales directly in, or around, your neighborhood. The properties used for comparison purposes in the CMA should not be older than 6-8 months old. Make sure that when your Realtor provides you with a CMA, they are using pertinent and up-to-date information. This information will compile a sales price based on a price per square foot of the other homes. Also, make sure that your Realtor adjusts the comparable properties to make them more like your home, or the subject property. This will help ensure a more accurate price per square foot, which will in turn make for a better initial asking price.

6. Does your Realtor work Dual Agency and what is Dual Agency?

Dual Agency is a very serious matter and requires a well trained real estate professional. Dual agency is when one Realtor represents both the seller and the buyer during one transaction. A Realtor should ask your permission to be a dual agent during the sale of your home. The Realtor should also explain what dual agency is and how it can affect you during the sales process.

7. How will your Realtor market your home to other Realtors?

Experienced agents understand how important networking within the real estate business is, and works hard to to know, and make themselves known, throughout the area. It's just as important for a Realtor to market your home to other Realtors as it is to the general public. Find out how your Realtor intends to market yourn home to agents in the area, and what kind of a response they normally get.

8. Is it easy to contact your Realtor?

Since the nature of a Realtors job takes them in and out of the office quite often, you should know how easy it will be to contact your Realtor? How timely will they be on a response if you leave a message? Are there people at the office that can also assist you, such as the administrative assistants or managers? Even after a contract has been negotiated and accepted on your home, how often will your Realtor keep you posted until the deal is closed?

9. Does your Realtor work primarily with sellers?

If your Realtor primarily represents other sellers and does not work with buyers as well, they may miss out on how to appropriately market your home to the most potential buyers. Agents who work with all aspects of real estate have a keen understanding of the different buying influences. For example, a Realtor who works with sellers, buyers, and new construction will understand what aspects of your home are most important to the current buyers and will market your home appropriately. In order to sell your home and receive maximum profit, your Realtor should know and keep aware of what today's buyers want in their next home.

10. How long is your Realtor's listing agreement?

The amount of time that you have your home listed with your Realtor is negotiable. You and the agent can determine together how long your home will be listed with that Realtor. After the agreed upon timeframe the agent and you can negotiate a longer listing period. A Realtor should ALWAYS provide you the seller, with copies of your listing agreement, as well as copies of your disclosure reports. Every seller should know exactly when their listing agreement expires and should have it in writing.