How to choose a realtor

We're considering moving after living in our house since 1996.  How do you choose a realtor (years in business, etc)  I'm sure things have changed since we bought last.  Also, we're considering moving to the Morristown area.  Would our realtor look for stuff for us or do you get a Morristown realtor?  Please try to be specific.  

Michele Flannery-Wardius of Weichert Short Hills, Cell phone973) 524-8281, is great at finding homes in the  Morristown area and can sell your house here.  One of the best.

Weichert Realtors 
505 Millburn Avenue
Short Hills, NJ  07078

For a selling agent, I'd look for someone who has a good record with online visual slide shows and 360-degree photo tours, as people often want to see the entire house and yard online before committing to seeing it in peerson, particularly if they currently live outside the area. I'd also assess how they use social media to promote properties. Staging the house for sale also is important. Yes, I would think if you are looking in Morristown you want someone there who knows thar area.

For an agent to assist in buying:  for starters, consider narrowing the list to those agents who have done lunch at all of Their (agents' lunch) open houses in the Morristown area in the recent past.  Do SH based real estate agents regularly travel up there for these noontime food fests?

Beyond this, I'd seek advice (for your queries) from MOL's own sarahzm - who recently moved away, I believe,  but may still post here. Very knowledgeable.  Sure to know what's most important in agent selection.

We started our search in Morristown with a good agent we met during the open house. After we decided on Maplewood, we just went to open houses here in hope to meet some local agents ...and we went back to our lady from Morristown. I will be happy to provide you her contacts. She was not "pushing sale" - which is one of the most important qualities in realtor when buying a house -for me.

As far as selling, I believe technology has made almost all agents equal - professional photos, database listings are pretty standard. Most people use Trulia, Zillow, and Realtor.com to find a house - once your listing is in the database, it will appear in all those sites. I am not sure about the importance of video - I never looked at them, but maybe if your house is in a high price range it is worth it. I think house price and market ultimately determine a quick sale.

I would interview at least three agents. Personally, I would avoid "star agents" - most come to give you the presentation, but send junior agents to hold your open house. Our agent told us that she had hard time to reach our local star realtor to submit an offer - she had to talk to three different assistants.. maybe it was just a busy season... I would ask for a half percent discount on commission... and a full percent if I use her or him on both deals. I also would not go with the one who promises the highest price... and by all means avoid relatives, friends, friends of friends, etc - all those people are very uncomfortable to replace if needed. Good luck!!

I agree on this. We had a similar experience with a top agent with one of her associates taking over once she had our business. He was good but I didn’t like it because I chose her for specific reasons. It seemed really unfair like a bait and switch. I’d ask them point blank to commit to being the one doing the open houses, etc.

Agree about avoiding the "star" agents, especially if your price range is not top tier. Our star agent talked a good game, but she was notably lacking in personal involvement when the deal was in progress. Very disappointing.