How to Qualify an Agent and What Questions to Ask

• At open houses, talk to agents to determine their competence.
  
• Online, see which agents are making sales.
  
• You will want an agent that you have a good connection with; someone you like and trust.
  
• Ask each agent you meet with how they plan on marketing your home. Good real estate agents will provide a detailed report of how they will market your home.
  
• Find out how long the agent has been in the business and pick a seasoned professional.
  
• Note the agent's interest level as they view your home.
  
• Ask if they will provide a pricing analysis called a comparative market analysis (CMA) that compares your home to similar ones on the market.
  
• What services do you provide?
  
• How long does it take for your listings to sell?
  
• What is your range of fees?
  
• What is your success record?
  
• What are the asking prices of other homes in the area?
  
• Can you supply references from three recent sellers?
  
• Will you have a brokers' open house for my place?
  
• Will there be a public open house?
  
• How will you market my home?
  
• Do you list green improvements? (All green improvements you make should be written down and given to your agent. (There is a form called "Eco-Friendly Features and Appliances" in the Appendix that you can use for this.)
  

  The agents that I spoke to were all enthusiastic about green improvements and said they told buyers about them. Eco-friendly improvements will only become increasingly important to buyers as awareness continues to shift towards social responsibility and the health benefits of green living.