Once you've decide to sell your home, finding a REALTOR® is the next step in

the process. In making this important decision you should understand:

     · Who is a REALTOR®

     · How to evaluate an agent

     · What a REALTOR® will do for you

     · Selling on your own

     If you’re not in a "must sell" situation (job transfer, career opportunity, family

upheaval, financial hardship), but rather in an "elective" one, you may want to

consider adding on to your current home (if you need more space) or refinancing

to lower monthly mortgage costs (if finances are a concern).

     The terms agent, broker and REALTOR® are often used interchangeably, but

have very different meanings. For example, not all agents (also called

salespersons) or brokers are REALTORS®. Learn who is a REALTOR® and the

reasons why you should use one. As a prerequisite to selling real estate, a

person must be licensed by the state in which they work, either as an

agent/salesperson or as a broker. Before a license is issued, minimum standards

for education, examinations and experience, which are determined on a state by

state basis, must be met.

     After receiving a real estate license, most agents go on to join their local board or

association of REALTORS® and the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF

REALTORS®, the world's largest professional trade association. They can then

call themselves 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 (which in many cases goes beyond state law). In most areas, it is

the REALTOR® who shares information on the homes they are marketing,

through a Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Working with a REALTOR® who

belongs to an MLS will give you access to the greatest number of homes.

     Without any obligation, you can invite local REALTORS® to visit your home and

give you a "listing presentation" about why they're the best ones to market it for

you. Two to three presentations will probably give you a good opportunity for

choice. A listing presentation includes having the REALTOR® review with you

the reasons why you should list with that particular individual, and providing you

with information that will assist you in making initial decisions about selling your

home.

     Recent laws in every state have defined the duties of someone specifically

retained as a real estate agent. Most states require a real estate agent to explain

his or her role at the outset of any conversation. A professional agent will

promptly provide this such a disclosure.

Look for an agent who:

     · Is a member of the local board or association of REALTORS®

who they are representing--the buyer or the seller) early on in the process,

at "serious first contact"

     · Advises you on how to prepare your home for the market

confidence, operates in a professional manner, and has a complementary

personality style to yours

     · Has already researched your property in the public records and the MLS

     · Brings data on nearby homes that have sold (or failed to sell) recently

The following are important questions to ask a potential agent:

     · Are you a REALTOR®?

information, you can check with your state’s governing agency.

online home buyer’s search service? Multiple Listing Services are

cooperative information networks of REALTORS® that provide

descriptions of most of the houses for sale in a particular region.

brokers on a sale?

     · What have you listed or sold in this neighborhood lately?

     · Do you cooperate with buyers' brokers?

finds the buyer?

    And in addition to the criteria mentioned above, there are number of very

important reasons you will typically prefer to work with a REALTOR®. Among

them are the fact that they adhere to the NAR’s highest standards of ethical

conduct and professional training.

     There are many important reasons to use a REALTOR®. Some of the duties

your REALTOR® will perform for you include:

     · Walking through the process of selling your home from beginning to end

properties have sold and analyzing data for you to gain a true comparison

want to consider