How to pick a real estate (listing) agent

If you're living in North America and are trying to select a real estate agent for selling a property, the first thing you must find out is if the realtor know the inventory similar to the property you want to sell.

Next, you need to evaluate his relationship with the community of other agents who are likely to bring you a buyer. Then you need to have him establish the highest price at which you could sell the property by yourself as well as its optimum market value.

When you have that number you can discuss the commission rate, ask if it is negotiable and then also ask if the agent is willing to lower that same commission should the selling price drop under a certain threshold. That should do it and put you into a much stronger position.