REALTORS belong to local, state and national associations of REALTORS. While these groups serve the interests of real estate agents and the industry, they also do an awful lot of good things for homeowners. I don't think most homeowners are even aware these associations exist, much less what benefits they might provide them.

First of all, these associations provide training for real estate agents. This is a critical piece of their mission and it's important to buyers and sellers of real estate. The better educated your agent, the more likely you are to have a smooth transaction. Education doesn't eliminate the problems that can arise in any real estate purchase or sale. But it does help provide the expertise to the agent on how to deal with issues.

The associations also educate lawmakers. Whether it's providing input on how extending the size of the historical district might affect home values, or explaining the impact that new transaction fees will have on the Virginia real estate market or laying out for those in national government what might work to help stem the tide of foreclosures, these associations provide a very useful service.

They also educate homeowners. Whether it's through the information on the VAR (Virginia Association of REALTORS) or NAR (National Association of REALTORS) web sites or through newspaper articles and editorials, they help get the word out about changing real estate laws, how to buy or sell a home and a host of more specific topics.

There are a lot of good things happening behind the scenes with these groups. Don't ignore the help they can provide!

I was at a training session this last week and an agent in the area stood up and told how she gets lots of business by showing up for appointments in a new Mercedes Benz and a $3,000 custom suit.  It's an interesting marketing plan, if not one that provides a whole lot of benefits to the customer/client!

If you're wondering, I'm never showing up at your house in a $3,000 suit, even if I'm the richest woman on earth! My frugal ancestors would roll over in their graves! I was definitely not raised for conspicuous consumption!

But I did think that this might be an opportune time to talk about how you should go about choosing a real estate agent. I would argue for substance over style in this choice, although who you feel comfortable with is also a large consideration. After all, you may be spending a lot of time with this person and you'll certainly be trusting them for advice with one of your largest financial transactions.

So, here are some other criteria you might think about when choosing a realtor.

1. Is this your full time business?

2. Do you have references available?

3. How long have you been in the business?

4. Are you a REALTOR, bound by the NAR code of ethics?

5. What additional designations, certifications do you have and what do those mean for me?

6. What is your communication plan for working with me?

7. What benefits does your firm offer to buyers/sellers?

These are questions that will apply whether you are buying or selling a home. There are also questions that will be specific to if you're buying or selling. In this blog, we'll talk about some of the sellers questions. I'll leave the buyers questions for another day.

1. What is your list price to sales price ratio?

2. What is your average DOM for your listings?

3. What is your marketing plan for my home?

4. What will you do to market my home on the internet where most buyers now start their home search?

5. What else do you do for me besides market my home?

6. Will you represent only our interests or do you do dual agency?

7. What happens if I am unhappy with your services?

And, here's one question you should not base your decision on:

How much will you list my home for?

Anyone can give you a number that will make you happy! But if your home won't actually sell for that amount, you're just buying trouble for yourself.  And you will ultimately net much less by overpricing your home at the beginning.

As always, comments regarding these suggestions are welcomed! Do you have questions you've used with agents that have gotten you vital information that helped you make a wise decision? Share them with us!

And, if you'd like to ask me these questions, get in touch! Julie@JulieEmery.com is my e-mail address and you can find out more about me at http://www.JulieEmery.com