One of the worst things you can do is to auction the house off to the highest-bidding agent or the cheapest agent. Don’t do that.

Choose the person you want to work with, based on the questions below and the strategies they explain to you. Then work out with them what is best to do. Whether by phone or on your first visit, ask the agent these questions before you take them on. How long have they been in the industry? How many houses have they sold in that time? What the average sales price was? What the average days on market was?

Once they have seen your home, ask about: What selling strategy they suggest – e.g., auction, with a price? What advertising options they have access to? What they can do to fit in with your time line? And any comparable sales they know of. What support they have? Do they have a PA? How much admin support do they get from the office? How many other agents work with them, and will there be anyone else working on your home? Their database. Do they share databases throughout the office –that is, will you have access to all the registered buyers?

Ask straight out:  “Why should I choose you?” Do this for all the agents. See who sweats and

who can answer them.