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STEPS TO CHOOSE A REALTOR WHO WORKS FOR YOU Once you have decided to sell your home, finding a Realtor is the next step in the process. In making this important decision you need to know who are Realtors, how you evaluate an agent and what a Realtor will do for you. Realtors are licensed by the state in which they work after minimum standards for education, examinations, and experience are met. Realtors are members of the National Association of Realtors along with becoming members of their local board of Realtors. The term "Realtor" is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Realtors share information on the homes they are marketing through a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) which gives you access to the greatest number of homes. You can invite a Realtor to visit your home, and he or she will review with you the reasons why you should list with that particular individual and provide you with information that will assist you in making initial decisions about selling your home. The Realtor will explain his or her role at the outset of any conversation. Look for a Realtor who has experience in selling a property like yours as well as one who explains and discloses agency relationships, advises you on how to prepare your home for the market, shows some enthusiasm for your property, listens attentively, instills confidence, operates in a professional manner, and has a complimentary personality style to yours. The following are important questions to ask a potential agent: . Do you belong to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)? . What have you listed or sold lately? . Do you cooperate with other brokers? What share of the commission will you . offer a cooperating broker who finds the buyer? What will a Realtor do for you? A Realtor will walk through the process of selling your home from beginning to end and will: . Provide comparable information about the prices for which other properties have sold and analyze data for you to gain a true comparison . Supply information regarding local customs and regulations you may want to consider . Share information about your home through the Multiple Listing Service and on the Internet . Place advertisements for your home Field phone calls . Qualify potential buyers to make sure they would be financially able to buy your property . Negotiate the sales contract . Alert you to potential risks . Comply with the disclosures required by law . Provide you with an estimate of the closing costs you will incur . Help you prepare for a smooth closing of the transaction