Hi Meaghan, my approach to your question may be slightly different from others.

I always tell the buying and selling public selecting a Realtor for yourself, either for selling and or selling and buying real estate is a very personal decision and I compare it to selecting your family doctor, dentist, an attorney if you need etc.
You want to work with an Agent you feel you have good rapport and understanding and one you will work well together and especially someone you trust. You want the agent to have several years experience as a licensed Realtor... thereafter we all have access to the very same information on the multiple listing service and we all can preview homes that are competing with yours etc. etc.
The difference is how much time we spend on each client, how detail oriented we are etc. etc.

In this more difficult market, with a lot of inventory i.e. properties on the market for sale and not enough ready and willing buyers wanting to buy, you will have to prepare yourself that it will take a bit longer than in the past to get your property under contract.

I have several Realtor Colleagues who are working out of Grayslake I could recommend to you if you like.
So send me your name, address and e-mail address and I will forward to you the Grayslake agents' contact info who I know will provide very good service and I will also let them know about you ... and then just call them and meet with them to discuss the marketing and sale of your property.
Hope this will help you!
Edith
Just e-mail me edithsellshomes@gmail.com

Meaghan,
As far a finding out statistics--any agent should be able to provide you a list of the homes that they have sold in any given timeframe. And that agent should also be able to provide a list of all the homes sold in your complex in the last year along with the names of the listing agent for each of the properties.

However, the task of finding the best agent for the job can be more complex than that. For example, if one agent has listed and sold three townhomes in your complex but only did five deals in a year--and another agent sold one or none in your complex, but has sold 40 homes and townhomes in your town or area--how would you decide which one had the best set of skills to get the job done? I would suggest that the second agent is probably a better choice.

There are pros and cons to working with an agent who has other listings in the same development. On the one hand--the extra signs and internet listings can bring in additional lookers to your home. On the other hand, you can legitimately question if the agent is promoting your interest over that of the other sellers. For example, one agent has three listings of the same model at the same price all with sellers who all are anxious to sell. If the agent is representing just one of the sellers--then it is easier for the agent to tell the seller that he needs to reduce in order to be the first one to sell. If he is representing all three, then which one should he advise to reduce--he might be inclined to avoid conflict by letting them all alone. It is an interesting problem.

The main criteria for finding an a great agent:
1. Needs to be a full-time agent.
2. Does at least 50 percent of their business in your town or within 5 miles.
3. Sells at least 25 homes per year.
4. You trust the agent and feel comfortable with him after meeting him.

Hi Meaghan,
Call some of the signs you see around town, see how long it takes to get a response and actually talk to the agent. This is the same response time a consumer will run across when they are looking to view your home or at least get some info on it. Is it easy to get in touch with the agent who will represent you?
You should definately interview at least three agents. Ask them how many homes they sold last year. You definately want a full time Realtor who has been selling homes for at least 5-10 years minumum, this is not market for part timers!

Call anytime, Jim Starwalt

Meaghan, This might be interesting reading for you....http://www.trulia.com/blog/rockinblu/2008/12/i_ve_got_my_fin…

Good luck, Dunes

Keith, I don't think anyone could have said it better!! Good luck Meaghan


Coni

Meaghan,
You can start your search online to view agents profiles. This way you can see how many listings the agent is working currently and some inforamtion about themselves and their team if they have one.
I would also asked friends and family if they have an agent they would recommend. This way you can hear first hand of a successful agent.
Interview a few agents. Most agents will offer a free market analysis of your home. They will talk with you about the value of your home, market statistics, along with a personalized marketing plan on how to get your home under contract. Not only are you looking for a successful agent, but one that you are comfortable with.
One of the questions you should ask is "How many homes did you sell last year". This will be a gage on how sucessful the agent really is.
I would love the opportunity to work with you and be one of the agents selected for an interview. Please visit my website, and give my team a call when you have a moment.

Meaghan
That is a good question.
The best answer is that you need the best Realtor for YOU. Not for anybody else.

Many of the "top selling agents" rely on the odds of probability in selling their listings. You get enough listings, you know that some will sell, some won't, so who cares? That is not to say that ALL "top agents" are like that...but sometimes the sellers who have listed their homes feel that way when their home doesn't sell.

So the real question is how to you find the right Realtor for you?
It comes down to expectations. I would suggest talking with a couple of REaltors and comparing what they propose to do. If you need to move, and you have a time table, the questions are clear:
What should I do to help my home sell for the most profit?
How will you market my home?
What results can I expect?
What will you do if we do not achieve those results?

I submit a questionnaire to sellers asking for their primary concerns. If you like I'll send it to you.
As a matter of fact, I'll even refer you to a top Realtor in your area if you like.

IMHO the bottom line is "are they committed to the same mission you are?". Selling your home to top dollar in the least amount of time with the least inconvenience. If they say they are, then ask them to prove it.

That means that they should be able to show you a marketing plan that, after they explain it to you, you beiieve will work.

Good luck.