When you are ready to sell your home, you will want to work with a REALTOR® who is qualified, who has a good understanding of the market and the competition, who knows how to best market your home to prospective buyers and who keeps your best interests in mind. Before you choose the REALTOR® with whom you want to work, consider asking him or her the following questions:

1. How long have you been in real estate sales? Is it your full-time job? (While experience is no guarantee of skill, real estate, like many professions, is mostly learned on the job.)
   
2. What designations do you hold? (Designations, such as GRI, CRS, ABR, which require that real estate professionals take additional, specialized real estate training, are held by about one-quarter of real estate agents.)
   
3. How many homes did you sell last year?
   
4. For the homes you sold, how close were the initial asking prices to the final sale prices?
   
5. How will you market my home? (Every property is different and requires a thought-out plan. Be sure your agent is a member of the Memphis Area Association of REALTORS® Multiple Listing Service, a cooperative online database of more than 8,300 properties for sale in the Memphis area subscribed to by more than 3,800 agents.)
   
6. Will you represent me exclusively, or will you represent both the buyer and the seller in the transaction? (While it is legal to represent both parties in transaction, it's important to understand where the agent's obligations lie. A good agent will explain the agency relationship to you and describe the rights of each party.)
   
7. Can you recommend service providers who can assist me in making repairs on my home and other things I need done? (Keep in mind that real estate agents should generally recommend more than one provider.)
   
8. How will you keep me informed about the progress of my transaction? How frequently? Using what media? (This is not a question with a correct answer, but one that reflects your desires. Do you want updates twice a week or don't want to be bothered unless there's a hot prospect? Do you prefer phone, e-mail or a personal visit?)
   
9. Can you please give me the names and phone numbers of your three most recent clients?

Selling property is a complicated proposition. You need a professional – someone to answer your questions and guide you through the process. Someone who adheres to a strict code of ethics. So, make sure you're working with a REALTOR®.