RISMEDIA, March 9, 2010—If you’re like most Americans, buying or selling a house is one of your life’s most important personal and financial decisions. Therefore, it makes sense to hire a skilled real estate professional to help you achieve your goals, says 2010 Florida Realtors President Wendell Davis, a broker and regional vice president with Watson Realty Corp. in Jacksonville.

“A Realtor recognizes the importance of the transaction to the buyer and seller, and uses his or her skills to reach an agreement satisfactory to all parties involved,” says Davis. “Unlike a real estate agent who has simply met the state’s licensing requirements to do business, a Realtor takes the profession to the next level by voluntarily agreeing to abide by a Code of Ethics and by becoming a member of the local, state and national Realtor boards or associations.”

A recent study from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) found that the number of first-time home buyers in 2009 rose to 47%- the highest on record dating back to 1981. Selecting a Realtor to work with is particularly important for first-time buyers who haven’t gone through the complex process of finding a home and negotiating a real estate transaction.

Florida Realtors offer the following tips to help choose a skilled real estate professional:

-Talk with friends, neighbors and co-workers who recently bought or sold a home in the area. What kind of service did they receive? Would they select the same Realtor or company again?

-Look for posted “for sale” or “sold” signs in your neighborhood. A company that is active in your neighborhood, community or condo building warrants further consideration.

-Attend an open house and observe the Realtor in action, judging his or her expertise. Were you shown the home in a professional manner? How familiar was the agent with the property?

-If you’re selling a home, ask if the Realtor and brokerage company are members of a national network or have international alliances that could potentially market your home to prospective buyers across the country or around the world.

-Once you’ve identified several potential Realtors, visit their websites and learn more about their backgrounds and experience. You could also send them an email asking for information on how they’ve helped buyers or sellers.

Once you’ve narrowed your choice to two or three Realtors, ask each of them the following questions.

-How long have you been licensed?

-How long have you actively worked in the area?

-How many home sales have you closed in the last three months?

-Do you work full time as a Realtor or Realtor-Associate?

-Can you give me three names of references whose homes you’ve recently sold?

-How will you work to actively seek buyers for my home?

-Are you a member of the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS)? Do you have your own website?

-Have you earned any specialty professional real estate designations?

Selecting a Realtor is usually based on an individual’s knowledge, skills and personality, Davis says, “When you choose a Realtor, you can be assured you’re selecting a solid, caring professional who will treat you honestly and work diligently on your behalf.”