Are you wishing that your Boston Realtor or real estate agent would contact you more frequently? Are you looking for more advice? Does your Boston real estate agent work only part time? If your agent is casting any doubts in these basic areas of customer service you may want to consider going elsewhere.

In an uncertain housing market, choosing an effective real estate agent will absolutely make a big difference for consumers looking to buy or sell property in Boston. However, not all real estate agents are created equally. Selecting a real estate agent is a major decision, so be certain the real estate agent you select is qualified and works for you. It seems as though everyone knows a real estate agent, or knows someone who knows a real estate agent, but remember quantity and quality are usually on opposite ends of the spectrum. The following criteria will help you discern the disposable the indispensible.

1. Compile a list of candidates. Start your selection process by putting together list of qualified candidates. Speak with friends & family who have recently bought or sold a home. What was their experience? Would they use him or her again? If you are a prospective home sellers keep eyes peeled for properties in their neighborhood that have sold quickly & inquire about the real estate agents responsible for the transaction.

2. Conduct an informal background check. Once you have your list of potentials, do your homework. Google each real estate agent or search the local Boston newspaper's online search engine & see what information surfaces. If you do not see the agent popping up in results, blogs, facebook or twitter, chances are he or she does not have the networking skills or savvy to reach a diverse audience in order to effectively market your investments or home. Check your state's real estate licensing board and be certain the person you are considering for your agent has a license.

3. Next schedule interviews. After narrowing down the candidates, meet the agents face to face. The relationship you have with your real estate agent is essential. You want to feel like you can work with this person & you want to feel that this person can effectively represent your investment. You should be honest, by letting the agent know that you are considering other agents as well.

4. Experience. Understanding the agents personality & professionalism is only half the equation, experience is the other half. Determine the agent's experience with your target market. Ask questions like, where do you live, where do you work or where are most of your transactions. Cities like Boston have so many real estate agents, it should not be hard to find one with a subspecialty. 

5. Consider is key. Be certain that your agent will communicate effectively as the process unfolds. There are several components to communication like confidence, clarity & consistency. A confident agent possesses knowledge of the market and will share the information with supporting examples like recent home sales or new real estate legislation.  A clear agent will use a variety of communications tools from phone to email or social media and text messaging. Find out what works for you and make a request that your agent be versatile. Consistency is perhaps the most crucial especially when dealing with deadlines.  Ultimately, consumers need an agent who is responsive and easy to reach. An easy test is to call and email the agent on off hours & see just how responsive her or she is.

6. Review references. Finally, consumers should ask agents for a list of clients they have represented recently. References are a great resource, but the thing that most people don't do is they reach out to them. Utilize references to gain clear expectations, try to discover as many details as possible about the agent's performance during previous transactions. Also, see if your agent offers any reviews or testimonials online. Chances are if the agent has invested time into publicizing such cases, he or she has a track record worthy of your business.