If you will be selling your Grand Rapids home soon, then it is very important for you to make sure that you select the right real estate agent for the job. A real estate agent will help you set the right price for your home, market it and qualify the buyers. Every real estate agent has his or her strengths and weaknesses so selecting the right one is not easy.

Fortunately, there are several things you can do that will help you find the right real estate agent. Below are some tips for selecting a real estate agent:

Ask For Referrals

You can start your search for a real estate agent by asking your family members and friends. What were the agent’s strengths and weaknesses? Did the real estate agent meet or exceed your expectations? Those are some of the questions that you may want to consider asking your friend or family member.

Look Up The Licensing

In every state, a real estate agent must be licensed in order to legally practice. That is why you want to make sure that the person is licensed before you decide to hire him or her. You should also check to see if the real estate agent has received any complaints or disciplinary actions.

Experience

You should ask a prospective real estate agent about how many years he or she has been in the business. Ideally, you will want to select someone who has been in the business for at least five years.

Credentials

Just like many doctors specialize in a particular area, some real estate agents do also. Even if a real estate agent does not specialize in one area, he or she may still have completed some additional training. For example, many agents are certified residential specialists. This means that they have completed extra training in residential real estate.

Some real estate agents also become accredited buyer’s representatives. They are qualified to represent buyers in transaction. Seniors real estate specialists focus on helping sellers who are over the age of 50. Furthermore, if a real estate agent refers to him or herself as a realtor, then he or she is a member of the National Association of Realtors. Realtors are required to formally pledge to the support code of ethics.