Now might be a good time to sell your house. The housing market has yet to put a real drag on the economy, and most people still have more value in their homes than when they bought them, even with the current dip. However, the question then becomes: how do you choose a listing agent?

There are a few things to keep in mind when finding a good listing agent. And in a downcycle housing market, it is important to make the best of your situation by finding a good listing agent that gets results. Here are five things to find out about before committing to a listing agent:

Full-time. There are plenty of part-timers in real estate. However, you want a listing agent that is full-time. This way you know that the responsiveness is there, and that real estate is his or her ONLY business. This also plays into accessibility. You want someone who you can reach regularly, and whom you know will check and return messages in a timely manner.

Percentage of homes sold. Ask about percentage of homes sold in the past year. Sheer numbers don’t tell you much. Someone with 50 listings may have sold 25 homes in the past five years, but you might be better off with the agent who sold 15 homes, but only had 20 listings. Additionally, someone with too many listings may not be able to give your home proper attention. Also make sure that you find out the average market time of a home in the last 12 months, and whether homes selling faster went below the listing price.

Length of practice time. Right now, it is a good idea to list with someone who has been licensed for at least five years. Longer experience is better. You know that such a listing agent has survived downcycles before.

Awards won. It’s nice to know that your listing agent has won awards. “Million Dollar Sales Club” and “Top Agent/Producer” lets you know that your listing agent can actually perform, and has been recognized by a third party for success.

Methods. Find out how the listing agent plans to sell your home. A good listing agent does more than simply market your home using MLS and for sale signs. A good listing agent knows that 80% of buyers use the Internet to search for homes, and that it is important to integrate online and offline methods.

Tags: listing agent, personal finance, financial planning, finances,
financial goals, good listing agent , choose listing agent, housing market