SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

Selling this spring? Basic tips to finding a good agent

Feb 22, 2012, 9:00 AM | Updated: Mar 4, 2016, 5:56 am

All the websites you visited are pretty and impressive, but how do find a good real estate agent if...

All the websites you visited are pretty and impressive, but how do find a good real estate agent if you want to market your home this spring? (AP Photo)

(AP Photo)

You haven’t sold a home in more than a decade. The great agent you once used retired last year.

All the websites you visited are pretty and impressive, but where do you go from here if you want to market your home this spring?

Getting a recommendation from a friend or work colleague is an excellent way to find a good agent, whether you are a buyer or a seller. Be sure to ask if they would use the agent again.

You also can call the managers of reputable real estate firms and ask them for recommendations of agents who have worked in your neighborhood.

A good agent typically works full-time and has several years of experience at minimum.

If you are a seller, take the time to interview at least three agents, all of whom should make a sales presentation including a comparative market analysis of local home prices in your area. The best choice isn’t always the agent with the highest asking price for your home.

Be sure to evaluate all aspects of the agent’s marketing plan and how well you think you can work with the individual. If your communication seems awkward, find an another agent that feels like a better fit.

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Selling this spring? Basic tips to finding a good agent