Not all real estate agents aren’t created equal. Some realtors get personally involved every step of the way, while some farm out a lot of the work to other brokers. The amount of formal education a realtor has, the knowledge they have about the neighborhoods and their knowledge of sucessful marketing strategies vary, widely.

Before you get started, it’s important to understand exactly what (or who) you’re shopping for. Many people use the terms “realtor”, and “real estate agent” interchangeably, but they aren’t mutually inclusive.

A real estate agent is a person who has a real estate license from the state in which they practice (keep in mind, though, that the requirements for getting a real estate license in most states are pretty minimal).

A realtor is a real estate agent who has earned additional certification from the National Association of Realtors and is held to a strict code of ethics and continuing education standards.

More important is the level of commitment, energy and local knowledge he or she may have. How long have they been in the business and is he/she a full time agent? Look for commitment. Many real estate agents only practice on a part-time basis and they might not have the time or drive to give you the attention you deserve. Also, many brokers are only interested in representing properties within a certain price range. If your home isn’t in it, they might not give it their all.

Don’t be afraid to ask them how well they know your neighborhood and exactly how often you’ll hear from them. Ask for references and check them.

Evaluate prospective agents based on personality as well. Your relationship with your real estate agent will be a working one, and if you don’t think you’d work well with him or her, it won’t work out.

Ask friends to refer you to real estate agents they’ve had good experiences with. Ask any prospective real estate agent what they’ll do to sell your home. It sounds elementary, but not all agents work the same way. Some will advertise your property and spread the word to other agents they know. Others will just add your property to the MLS (Multiple Listing Service, a directory of homes for sale) and wait for inquiries.