The agent has to be as passionate about the house as you are, there must be an acknowledgement of its good points and an acceptance of the flaws.

While it’s important that you feel comfortable with an agent there are some vital factors to take into account before you hand over that sole mandate:

• The agency must be in good standing. Look for a company that has been around for a while and enjoys a good reputation. Have a look at their marketing, do they have good exposure in the press? Do they have a good mix of houses on show?

• A good way to get a feel for the agency is to visit one of their show houses, chat to the agent and see how he or she represents the client.

• A professional agent will set a realistic price and provide you with a list of what other houses sold for in your area. If you ask more than one agent to provide a valuation and one of them is much higher than the rest, don’t assume that theirs is the right one (a natural thing to do). If they price the house unrealistically just to get you to place the mandate with them, you will both lose.

• As a seller you also have responsibilities. You must be prepared to divulge the true circumstances pertaining to your move. If the agent knows that you need to move in a hurry she may push harder for a quicker sale, if you have time on your side she may hold out for a higher price. Sometimes the cost of holding a home for a few months could equal the extra money you hope to see on the bottom line. Do your homework on this one. You also have to allow reasonable access to your home, and keep it as tidy as possible.

• Remember that you are members of the same team: the agent is working for you, the seller, and will try to achieve the best price possible. A good way to make sure that you are on the same page is to identify the top 10 features of the home and 10 areas for improvement. Tell the agent what you will or will not do to make the home more saleable. This will circumvent the 'tennis match' type of communications that frustrates everyone.

• Finally you have to know that the agency can deliver. If the support team at the office is efficient, the management are of high integrity and they are passionate about real estate, then you are on a winning team.

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