Unless you work with real estate day in and day out, you are not aware of the changes that take place in the housing market. A full time professional real estate agent is constantly working to stay ahead of the market. They know how to maximize the profit from the sale of your home. The real estate agent you select will make a big difference on the profit you receive on the sale of your home.

In order to get the very best real estate agent for your needs, you need to carefully evaluate the qualifications of each agent you interview. You must work with someone you know and trust. You must believe the agent is working in your best interest and for maximum profit. Here are a few points to keep in mind as you look for a good agent.

Do your homework. Find out who is actively working in real estate in your area. Referrals from friends, neighbors, relatives and co-workers are best. If someone had a good experience with a real estate agent, you need to know it. Write down the names and phone numbers of the agents. Learn as much as you can about them.

Once you’ve done a little homework, call the agent and pay careful attention. For example, how long does it take for them to call you back? Are the prompt? Are they courteous? This may seem like a small thing, but keep this in mind. Your agent will be returning calls to potential buyers in your behalf. If they pass this first test, then ask them a few questions over the phone to decide if you want to have a personal interview with them.

When you have that personal interview, be prepared to ask some specific questions. For example, do they have a written and specific marketing plan for selling your home? What will they do in the first 30 days your home is on the market? What services does you agent provide? Who do they know that are excellent lenders, inspectors, vendors, title companies, etc? The best real estate agents have established good relationships with people that get the job done right and on time.

Review with your agent what you can do to increase the value of your home, before you put it on the market. A good agent will tour your home and give you very specific suggestions on what to do. Listen carefully, write them down and start preparing to sell your home for maximum profit. You’ll be surprised, but a few simple changes and repairs can add significant dollars to the profit of your home. Your agent has the responsibility to educate you on every aspect of the sales process.

Your agent should take time to explain to you the cost and fees associates with selling your home. You should know exactly how much profit to expect from your home sale.  In addition, your agent should explain to you what to do when your home is being shown, how appointments are made, how negotiations normally take place, etc.

You agent should have a comprehensive plan for marketing your home. It should utilize the most current technology. Your home should be available to all buyers, world wide, all day, everyday. Your agent should have a specific plan for tracking leads. He/she should have a way already established for of contacting potential buyers. Ask yourself, do the marketing strategies seem professional? Good agents have many methods for marketing your home. You should use as many as possible. This will help sell your home in minimum time at maximum value.

All marketing and advertising should be professional in appearance and well written. At a minimum, your home should be listed on the MLS (multiple listing service), in local home magazines and on the internet. There should be a professional looking yard sign in your front yard. The quality of the marketing materials directly impacts the perceived value of your home.

There are four factors that determine the value of your home: the location, condition, price and marketing plan. Although you cannot change the location of your home, you can determine the condition, asking price and marketing plan that will be used to sell your home.

Always work with a full time professional real estate agent. If you’ve followed the suggestions above in the selection process, the agent will meet or exceed your expectations. You will get maximum return on the sale of your home.