Mistake No. 6 - “The agent is what counts.” The agent can’t be any better than the company he or she represents. Look for company support. Find out office hours - if no one is there to answer the phone your home is going to be difficult to show.

Mistake No. 7 - “All realtors passed the same test so they must know the same things.” The real estate profession is constantly changing. The best real estate professionals stay abreast of those changes by continuing their education beyond the required demands. Look for additional designations and how recently they were acquired.

Mistake No. 8 – “This agent will hold an open house every week.” Open houses can and do sell homes. But only a small fraction of the homes held open are sold as a direct result of the open house. Good agents know better than to pin all their hopes on an open house. They use their time and the seller’s time in more effective marketing methods.

Mistake No. 9 – “I want an agent who lives in my neighborhood.” An agent should be hired because he or she is the most qualified for the job. Knowledge of the market isn’t only acquired by living nearby. Convenience shouldn’t be the primary reason for choosing an agent.

Mistake No. 10 – “This agent sold more homes last year than anyone else.” That should only be the beginning. How many of their listings did not sell? How many were reduced over and over before they sold? How smoothly was the process handled? How accessible was the agent when there were questions or problems? Quantity is important, but only if all of the quality questions have been answered satisfactorily.