I think we all agree that top agents have strong negotiating skills. Using this criteria, here’s a good way to choose a REALTOR(R).

Most consumers don’t know that real estate agents have widely divergent incomes. Some real estate brokers provide higher producing agents a higher commission split compared to lower producing agents. (This is somewhat progressive.) Some real estate brokers refuse to negotiate commission splits and maintain their entire sales force at a roughly 50-50 split. (This is totally old-fashioned.) Some real estate brokers provide all their agents with splits that are heads-and-shoulders higher than most splits at the "somewhat progressive" companies and light years higher than the "old fashioned" companies. (This is the future.)

So ask yourself the following questions: "do you really want to work with an agent who has failed to negotiate a high commission split for herself?" Let’s face it, if an agent hasn’t negotiated the best possible deal for herself, how effectively is she going to negotiate for you?