Choosing the right real estate agent to represent the sale of your home need not be a daunting task.  Above all, it’s always nice to work with someone who is genuine, likable, and positive all around.  But before signing a contract, take a few minutes and interview the agent you’re leaning towards – their answers may surprise you.  Here are 21 questions to start with…

1. How many homes have you sold in the neighborhood over the last month or two?
2. How many properties have you sold recently in the same price range as my home?
3. What is your pricing strategy and how confident are you that the asking price we set will be reasonable?
4. What if you can’t sell in 3 months or so – how long of a contract will we sign?
5. Do you have any staging tips for my home or know what works well in comparables?
6. Home much notice will you give me before showing my house to interested parties?
7. What is your opinion on open houses?
8. Can you provide a list of recent references, maybe the last 5 sellers you’ve represented?
9. What marketing efforts will be made with newspaper, internet, home magazines, etc.?
10. What type of internet presence do you have?
11. Where will my home be listed online?
12. Do you have a blog?
13. Will you be showing the property yourself (such as at an open house) or will another agent or assistant be showing it?
14. What is your strategy for selling in today’s tough buyer’s market?
15. How can I help make my home sell even faster?
16. Who do you envision as a potential buyer for my house?
17. Do you do any other promotion such as direct mail, flyers, talking signs, and so on?
18. Approximately how many homes do you usually represent at one time?
19. What is average time on the market for my immediate neighborhood?
20. Does your most recent track record meet or exceed that time frame?
21. Are we being realistic about all the details?

Remember, selling your home is not just an everyday transaction – it’s a big deal to you and should be a big deal to your selling agent too.  If you are leery or just don’t feel comfortable for any reason at all, it might be best to consider additional agents before selecting the perfect match for your needs.  After all, working with a real estate agent shouldn’t really be work!