Choosing the right real estate agent is an important decision which can dramatically impact your selling or purchasing experience. The following is a partial list of factors you should consider in selecting the right real estate broker.

Selling

Commission -
in general, a broker would not charge more than 1% of the sales price.

Comparable Sales -
ask the agent to provide you with a list of other properties with similar characteristics which recently sold in your area.

Familiarity with your Neighborhood -
make sure you choose an agent who is very knowledgeable about your specific neighborhood.

Exclusivity of Agency -
unless your property is extremely valuable and the estate agent is prepared to allocate certain advertising cost for its sale, Sole agency is undesirbale.

Advertising -
Find out where and how often the property will be advertised. If you list the property in the newspaper, other publications and the real estate agent's website.

Open Houses -
Find out if the real estate agent will be scheduling open houses. Although these open houses are usually not the most effective marketing tool, they can help sell your home.

Preparing Your Property for Sale -
Does the realtor have good suggestions about how to make your property more appealing to potential purchasers?

Purchasing

Find a real estate agent who listens to you and understands your priorities.

Find an agent who is free when you need them.

Choose an agent who points out the negatives, as well as the positives, of each property. There are many possible problems with a flat, the property or location which may not be obvious to a potential buyer. Make sure your agent informs you of these negatives.

If you are looking in different towns, consider using more than one agent. The agent you are thrilled with in one town may not be as knowledgeable about properties in other towns.

Find an agent who keeps you informed of new listings. Once your agent understands what you are looking for in a home, he/she should contact you as soon as new listings come on the market. Make sure your real estate agent has you in mind when new listings hit the market so that you do not miss these opportunities.