So you have a a real estate agent you might want to work with. What do you do next? How should you evaluate whether this is the person with whom you want to execute one of the more important financial transactions of your life?

Why through an interview! Here are some suggestions of what you should discuss. I’ve broken it up into 2 posts because it’s pretty long.

10) Can you provide me with some references I can call to learn more about your past work and your working style?

Ask references about their experience with the agent in question. Ask them what they liked most and least about working with this agent. Ask whether they would work again with the agent. Of course, since the agent gave you the references themselves, these people will be pre-screened. But, you sometimes can still learn a lot by learning to understand the finer points of how references say what they say.. and what they don’t say.

9) Do you pre-qualify buyers before showing them my home?

It is a good idea to have an agent who does this to avoid wasting your valuable time and nervous energy with people who are just looking.

8) What % of your business is referral-based?

A high number is better here. But be wary - agents with 100% referral business don’t really need your business. Make sure this won’t be reflected in the way the agents handles your home.

7) How do you plan to market my home to other real estate agents? Will you hold an all-agent open house when I first list my home?

Often it is good practice for a real estate agent to hold an open house exclusively for Realtors when a home is first listed. A professional open house introduces other local agents to your listing and makes it easier for them to show your home to any of their clients who may be interested.

6) How do you plan on marketing your home? What do you bring to this process that is unique from other agents? How often do you plan to hold open houses?

Look for an agent that will cover all the bases. He or she should have a detailed plan for advertising your home online, in print, through flyers, and open houses. If there is a particular marketing channel you would like to see the agent use (for example, open houses), this is the time to make this clear and included in the contract. Also, you should make sure that the agent pays for marketing expenses, and not you. An open house is an investment of time for both you and your agent; negotiate beforehand how many open houses your agent will hold for you.