The most important decision you can make in selling your home is to find the right REALTOR® for you.  Choosing someone to market your home should be conducted like any other business decision.  You are hiring someone to do a job.  This job has a great deal at stake - your home may be the greatest investment you have - make sure you hire the best person for the job. 

Choosing your best friend's hair-dresser's brother may seem like a nice thing to do, but only hire him if he is truly qualified and the best person for the job.  Interview him just as you would anyone else. Like any company in a hiring position, interview several candidates for the job of marketing your home.  Know up front what characteristics are the most important to you.  Each real estate agent has his/her own personal style, areas of expertise, and levels of experience.  You will best be served by someone with whom you are most comfortable.  Decide what type of agent you want.

• For some, working with the top agent in an area is not as appealing as it would be to others.  They fear that these top agents are too busy to provide the personalized attention they would like and that their property will get lost among the agent's vast inventory.  They want to work with the Agent they hired, not one of their many assistants. 
• Others, however, may feel that a busy agent with lots of listings attracts lots of buyers thus offering greater exposure.
• Some people prefer an older, more experienced agent, someone whose name is recognized in the community, whom they feel have been through the trenches and know a great deal. 
• Others prefer  younger, newer agents, whom they feel are more energetic and 'hungry' for their business and are more up-to-date on the latest trends in technology.
• Sometimes, it's not about experience or volume - it's about personality.  Work with someone with whom you are comfortable, someone whose personality meshes with yours, someone whom you trust. 

Each argument has it's merits.  As I mentioned, it's all up to you and how you feel about the person you are hiring to work for you.   

Once you've decided on a REALTOR®, go ahead and have them draw up the Listing Agreement.  The average length of a listing agreement in our area runs about 6 months.  This allows enough time for the home to be listed on the MLS, advertised and shown, and once an offer is made, it also covers the time during which contracts are being negotiated and worked out towards closing.  Find out at the time of listing what all your obligations are to help make this a smooth transaction.  Also, now is a great time to discuss ways to stage your home to make it show it's best!

Remember, if, at any time, you are unhappy with your Agent's services, you have every right to call that agent and ask them to cancel your agreement and remove your Listing from that agent.   While contracts are legally binding, they can always be terminated through mutual consent.  If you make it known to your agent that you want to terminate the contract, your agent will usually oblige, presenting mutual consent.  No one is going to force you to work with them against your wish.