Picking the right real estate professional is an important part of the buying or selling process. Below are five tips to keep in mind as you are searching for the perfect agent:

1. Look locally

Find a real estate professional who is familiar with the neighborhood in which you are looking to buy or sell. If you have used an agent before and were happy with the results, consider working with him or her again. If not, ask family, friends, or coworkers for recommendations, or chose a firm headed by an individual who is well-known in your community. If you're moving to a community with which you are unfamiliar, conduct an informal survey by driving through the local neighborhoods. Seeing the same name pop up time after time on "for sale" signs may indicate that the firm or person is a specialist in the area.

2. Think globally

If you are trying to sell your home or other property, you will want a real estate firm or professional that works with other agencies to get your property sold. This will give your property the greatest amount of exposure and help ensure a timely & profitable sale. The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is still the most common & effective cross-firm marketing tool used today.

3. Got credentials?

Real estate professional have different areas of expertise and different levels of experience. To be considered a "realtor," for example, a real estate agent must be a licensed member of the National Association of Realtors. You may also be interested in the following designations: ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative), CLHMS (Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist), CRP (Certified Relocation Professional), CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) and SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist). There are dozens of designations signifying dozens of areas of expertise, so identifying one or more that fit your needs may be helpful.

4. Get personal

Buying or selling a piece of property is a huge undertaking, and having an agent with a five-star personality and good work habits can have a tremendously positive effect on the entire experience. Find someone with whom you will feel comfortable discussing your concerns - someone who will help you make the right decisions but understands that you have the final word. Office environment can say a lot about a person's personality as well as their business habits. Are things organized or cluttered? Clean or unkempt? Consider visiting a potential agent at his or her office before putting anything in writing.

5. Get the facts

When it comes to choosing a real estate professional, consumers who do their homework can save thousands of dollars. Interviewing a number of different people and getting their responses to some basic questions can help you find the person who is best suited to help you buy or sell your property. For a list of basic questions you should ask every potential real estate agent, see Ten Questions to Ask a Potential Real Estate Agent.
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