Thinking about buying or selling a home soon? There are a few qualities you'll want to look for in any real estate agent ......
* Local Expertise Does this person know their stuff about neighborhood home value trends, commute times, and geographic factors such as flood plains? These are important so if the agent seems lost or like they're winging it, keep looking for the right Realtor
* Responsiveness You'll have a lot of questions and will be asked to produce documents at certain steps during the buying process. Think about how available you want your agent to be, and how quickly you want he or she to respond. One way to figure that out? Contact a prospective agent online or by phone and see how long it takes them to reply. If you don't hear back in a timeframe that works for you, it's probably best to move on
* Reputation This is when to consult your inner circle. And if you want to know if your agent is a REALTOR, you can call NAR at 1-800-874-6500