Nice Picture by the way. Have we met?
Shopping with buyers isn't rocket surgery. Start interviewing agents with a company you trust. You will find that you click with some and not others. Once you find one you feel comfortable with, that's your agent.

Wed Apr 30 2008, 11:00

HomeHound
I agree with the answer that a good way to find an agent is to visit open houses in your neighborhood.
You get to see first hand how the agent will be presenting your home and showing potential
purchasers. Also you can visit the webpages of agents marketing in your neighborhood and
see if the experience, information they provide matches your needs. I also agree that to look
for the highest dollar volume agent does not always make the best match. Many of these
agents are not able to provide the personalized services that some clients desire. Many aspects
of the transactions are handled by members of their team and some people prefer working
directly with the agent they hire. I suggest if the agent you are interviewing is not a good
personality match with you then no matter how successful that agent is nor the expertise they
can provide will make a satisfactory outcome for you. I live on the Eastside in Kirkland, my office
is in Bellevue and I have lived in Woodinville in the past.

Fri Apr 25 2008, 07:17

Please contact me so that I can recommend a top-quality agent for you to consider in your area. email me at janebkrueger@yahoo.com - Century 21 Bob Capes Realtors (#4 in sold units in Century 21 in the USA)

Thu Apr 24 2008, 14:06

1) Experience - if they've sold in your area before, they can likely do it again
2) Cost - 6% is so 1990s, don't get stuck overpaying by $1000s.
3) Work Style - different agents have different styles, pick one that works for you.

Every agent is going to tell you that they're the best. Visithttp:// www.seekingagents.com to find experienced real estate agents in your area who compete anonymously for the right to work with you. It's a great way to find a real estate agent who is a good match for you.

Thu Apr 24 2008, 14:03

The real estate company that can give your home the most exposure. Exposure, Exposure, that's the key in the market today. With over 90% of buyers looking on the web, I would say a company with the best internet expsoure. As far as the agent, make sure they are full time first, then see what their list to sale ratio is, their average days on market and how and where they advertise your home. Then make sure your personalities gel, in this market you may be spending some time together. Be careful not to overprice your home and you and your agent will both enjoy a successful relationship.

Thu Apr 24 2008, 13:30

Homehound -

These answers below are (overall) great! Don't forget that it is really about what you are looking for. The agent with the highest volume or highest dollar homes sold may not be the best agent for your specific needs. This is why so many agents continue to be successful...there is a diverse range of clients and a diverse range of agents to satisfy clients needs.

Do see who works well in and around your area. Do interview a few different agents and ask them how they plan to meet YOUR specific needs. This isn't necessarily about what they have done in the past but what they will be able to do for you specifically in the future.

Good luck!

Mon Apr 21 2008, 14:24

Sounds like you have a neighborhood picked out. Working with someone who knows that area well will be important. Drive around and see who's doing open houses and meet them. Do neighborhood searches on one of the major websites and see who the listing agents are. They've all done research on that neighborhood. Give them a call and see who has the time to get back to you quickly. Find out who's on the ball by trying email too. Once you've located several "local experts" it comes down to personality match. Who will you enjoy meeting to go out and see houses with? Who seems trustworthy? I think most agents are good and could do a great job for you. You don't have to make the agent selection part that tough. You could just ask a friend for a referral.

Mon Apr 21 2008, 14:14

Hello Home Hound,
You are in a good position, now it’s time for you to make a decision and what is best for you. What works for you? Service Good Service… Interview the agent and have fun. This is an important decision so find an agent you can enjoy working with and has direct line of communication on a professional level. A little sense of humor always helps.
Finding the right real estate professional requires doing a little research and asking a few questions. You need to know everything about the selling process. What is the marketing strategy? What kind of advertising will be done? You should be presented with a dated guide line of things to be done before the listing date and during the listing. Is the Realtor capable and willing to communicate effectively? Can the Realtor effectively present and sell the less-noticeable assets of the property. Make sure you get a good updated CMA. NEVER choose a Realtor on price alone. Remember that a Realtor cannot magically raise the selling price of the house. Consider the buyer. The purchaser won't willingly pay too much; it's most likely that he or she will do research on the market and try to find the best product for the best price. The facts simply cannot be changed, no matter which Realtor you select. In spite of these unchangeable factors, the Realtor you select must still be diligent and knowledgeable. If your property does not elicit attention within several weeks, the cause can most likely be attributed to one of these three factors: location, condition, and price. Take the time to visit my website athttp:// www.RogerSellsSeattle.com for more information .Remember your Realtor is working for you and should be able to offer good explanations and present you with the best advice for you to make good decisions of the competition, your pricing strategy and offers.
It’s Simple…It’s All about Service.
Would love to have an interview with you. Just give me a call 206-356-1282

Have Great Day,
Roger Kinnaman

Mon Apr 21 2008, 13:32

Hi Homehound,

Great comments below and I don't have much to add here. But, I love your screen name. Contact me through my new website athttp:// www.HomeHounds.com. I would love to chat with you directly about what I offer my clients.

Mon Apr 21 2008, 09:05

Homehound,
Remember that you are looking for the best Realtor for YOUR situation.
So relating, communicating, and understanding are key. This truly is a relationship business.
They need to have a marketing plan that is tailored to YOUR situation.
Expectations should be clearly defined, so you know what the next steps are in a given set of circumstances.

Many people hire the "neigbhorhood expert" and are disappointted. Interview a few, then go with the one you believe has YOUR best interest at heart, and convinces you they can deliver.

Sun Apr 20 2008, 21:01

Hi -
You live in a great neighborhood and there are many agents who might be perfect for your area - finding an agent who works well with you personally is probably just as important as finding an agent that is a stellar marketer, extremely ethical, and an excellent communicator. I usually suggest to people that they should ask their friends for referrals and also interview at least three agents during the process of choosing a Realtor (make sure they are a Realtor because Realtors abide by a higher code of standards).

I have many times found myself interviewing for a potential client and have heard the horror stories of some of their experiences. It is vital to really take the time and choose the right agent for you. Loyal Heights is a fabulous area and there is a huge demand for housing in that neighborhood. Pricing and marketing will be a big factor - open houses are a big help for this neighborhood, too, depending on your house and street.

Good luck!

Sun Apr 20 2008, 16:51

Hi HomeHound,

Great question. I will start with telling you what my idea of a great agent is, and I'll give you some ideas about how to find out if an agent posesses those qualities.

The first thing I would look for is someone who gets the bulk of his or her business by word of mouth. If an agent makes her clients happy every time, those people will be out telling their friends what great service they got, referring business her way. In contrast, agents who do huge, costly bulk mailings use name recognition to gain clients, so this type of agent doesn't have livelihood as directly linked to performance. So asking how much of a person's business is by referral is a great clue. The more the agent depends on clients having a positive experience, the better.

Your agent should be great at communicating. She should get back to you quickly when you have questions. In every aspect of the process, you should feel comfortable and in control.

Your agent should be an expert on the contracts used in real estate. Understanding the purchase and sale agreement, and every implication of every one of the terms within it is crucial to protecting a client's interests.

A good agent has an encyclopedic knowledge of your market. Not just your neighborhood, but your home style, price range, the economic forces influencing the local housing market. This agent should be able to watch what is selling and what is presently on the market in your area to gain a command of the best timing to make your move.

One of the most crucial qualities is a sense of integrity. If you know your agent is putting your interests ahead of hers, you are in good hands.

How do you find this person? One thing people looking for homes do is chat with the agents they meet at open houses to get a feel for that agent's personal style, market knowledge and experience. You can make it more like a job interview when you meet someone you like, and ask him or her to show you some other homes. After an interview and a day of driving with this person, you should have a pretty good sense of whether you think the business relationship will work out. As for people looking for an agent to sell a home, they can ask friends and co-workers if they know a good agent, they can look at who is writing the really great answers on Trulia ;) and ask each of these agents to help you arrive at a price for your home. The really great ones will meet with you once to see your home and then again once they have put together a market analysis for you, free of charge. During this presentation, you will get a sense of each agent's expertise. You can then pick the person who you feel confident will meet your goals of price and timing.

Good luck, and write again or call me if you need any clarification.

Sandra

Sun Apr 20 2008, 15:15

HomeHound;

I would suggest first off defining what you are looking for in an agent. Do you feel experience is important, energy, age, character, knowledge of your neighborhood etc.
Determine what you are looking for and then call a few Realtors to interview for the job.
I can't tell if you are a buyer or seller but let's just say if you are selling you would want to know how the Realtor intends to Market your home.
How will they communicate with you, What is their list to sales price ratio? How many homes have they sold in your neighborhood? Where do their buyers come from, Do they market to other Realtors. Do they know anything about other properties for sale in your neighborhood?

If you are a buyer...you want to know things like what services your Realtor and his or her brokerage offers, are they specialized in negotiation, are they an accredited buyers represenative? Will they be able to help you with financing questions, keeping you informed of all the latest properties etc.

Everyone can say they are the best and maybe believe it too! However, I think what works best for you will be different than what works for your neighbor. Don't go off the gimmicks, the paid advertisments etc. Word of mouth and testimonials are a bit more on the mark!
Good Luck!

Sun Apr 20 2008, 15:11