10 Things…

1. Shop around. Meet with two or three brokers before you sign on. You’re not only forming a financial relationship, but also an emotional one. If you need a lot of hand-holding, you might not work well with an agent whose strength is data analysis. Make sure your needs jibe with the person you choose.

1. Shop around. Meet with two or three brokers before you sign on. You're not only forming a financial relationship, but also an emotional one. If you need a lot of hand-holding, you might not work well with an agent whose strength is data analysis. Make sure your needs jibe with the person you choose.

2. Ask and be asked. You'll have a list of questions, but any potential broker should ask you questions, too. Is this your first house? When was the last time you bought a house? Why are you moving? If the broker asks very few questions, that could be an indication that he or she isn't interested in the full picture of your needs.

3. Define the process. Especially if you haven't been in the market for a while, ask the broker to detail exactly what will happen once you sign a contract for him to sell your house or help you buy a new one. How soon will the house go on the market? How will it be marketed? How often can you expect to hear from this agent? How quickly does she return phone calls?

4. Ask about creds. A licensed agent has met the state's minimum requirements to sell real estate. If possible, find a Realtor—a member of the National Association of Realtors who follows a specific code of ethics while also committing to extra training and course work.

5. Understand your contract with your broker. At a minimum, the contract contains language required by the Colorado Real Estate Commission as well as the agent's commission rate and a time limit for your agreement to work together (90 days, six months, a year).

“Since Colorado has no price fixing,” says Amy Dorsey, president of the Colorado Association of Realtors, “each company sets its own commission.” (Is it negotiable? You can certainly try.) You may also request that the contract spell out what actions you can expect from your agent: how many open houses he'll have, what the weekly marketing plan is, how your home will appear on his website, etc.

6. Stay away from guarantees. “If an agent guarantees he can sell your house in a week at top dollar,” says Mark Trenka, president elect of the Denver Board of Realtors, “run away as fast as you can.”

7. Establish who pays for what. Agents tend to shoulder all marketing costs out of their own pockets; however, should you insist on placing an ad in a paper the agent knows has poor results, you may be asked to pay for it yourself. And any home repairs are on your nickel, of course.

8. Find a “double” agent. “Since client motivations are different for buying or selling,” Trenka says, “it's in your best interest to find an agent who's handled both transactions.” That way, as the agent is helping you buy a home, she's also familiar with the motivation of potential sellers.

9. Choose someone who knows your market. No matter how much you click with an agent, if he isn't familiar with the local market, don't sign on. Ask instead that he refer you to someone who is.

10. Build a healthy relationship. It all boils down to this: Will you work comfortably with this agent for several months? Can you speak candidly to him or her about your concerns? Does he or she deliver constructive feedback diplomatically? If so, you've found your broker.