Buying or selling a home isn’t just like any other transaction – these are the big leagues, which means you need a tried-and-true slugger who will cover all the bases and make sure you walk out of the deal hassle-free and with money in your pocket.

But not every real estate agent is created equal. While it might be easy to just go with the neighbor who just happens to be an agent, or with the broker that your sister used to sell her home, a little more research and due diligence is called for.

You’re not just working with your real estate agent – you’re in a business relationship with them. So make sure the agent you choose is right for you.

Here are a few questions you should be asking prospective agents before signing a contract.

1. How long have you been an agent?

Sounds like a boring interview question, but it’s a relevant one. The longer the’ve been in the market, the better. Being a good real estate agent is a lot more about real-life experiences than about the initial educational courses taken. And if that agent has worked with a ton of clients that are similar to you and your needs, you’ll be better represented.

There might not necessarily be any magic number as far as number of years of experience is concerned, but you should still keep your eyes peeled for agents who have enough transactions under their belts to easily handle real estate deals from A to Z with little hiccups.

You should also probably consider whether or not the agent you’re interviewing works in the market on a part-time or full-time basis. Lots of agents do this part time and on the side, which means they probably won’t be able to offer the level of expertise and service that a professional who does this every day can.

2. What areas do you specialize in?

Ideally, you want to work with an agent that works closely in the area that you’re buying or selling in. That way, they’ve got their finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the neighborhood. If you’re buying, they’ll have the inside scoop about which properties are coming up for sale that match your criteria. If selling, they’ll know exactly what buyers are looking for, and will coach you on how to price and present your home accordingly.

Neighborhood expertise is crucial, because different community markets can have different traits and idiosyncrasies. What may be relevant in one specific area may not be in another. For example, the suburbs are much different than city centers. If the agent you’e considering usually works in neighborhoods far from your home, it’s highly possible that he or she isn’t as familiar with your area’s market than necessary.

3. How will we be communicating with each other?

Being able to stay in touch with your agent at a moment’s notice is important. A lapse in communication of just an hour or two can mean the difference between getting an offer accepted and missing a great opportunity. The agent you team up with should communicate the way it’s most convenient for you, whether it’s via email, phone, or text. It’s the real estate agent’s job is to communicate the way the client wants or needs.

4. How will you be marketing my home?

You can’t just plant a for-sale sign on your lawn and expect the buyers to come flocking. Marketing a property involves way more than that, and it’s up to you to ask your real estate agent what marketing channels will be used to market your home if you’re selling. Having your home advertised on the MLS is crucial, because it puts your home in front of the eyes of other agents working in your area, as well as buyers who are doing some of their own research.

In addition to the MLS, ask the agent how many other website your home will be listed on. In addition, ask if the listing will be placed in the newspaper, local real estate magazine, or anywhere else where buyers will be looking.

Look at the agent’s past listings, which will show you how well he or she is able to boost the visibility of a property. Also, make sure that the real estate agent you hire uses high-quality images for your online ads, which will show better to prospective buyers in your neighborhood.

5. Do you work within my home’s price range?

Ideally, your agent should have a decent amount of experience working with homes within your specific price range. That way, your agent will probably have a more skilled ability to see your home through a potential buyer’s eyes. If they’ve got experience dealing with buyers who are looking for properties within the same price range that you’re listing your home at, this will help the agent be more effective at negotiating at the bargaining table.

No matter how formally a real estate agent has prepared a sales pitch to convince you to use their services, make sure that they give you the answers you’re looking for. The agent you’re questioning may be an excellent one, but not necessarily right for you and your specific situation. Be sure to have a list of these questions written down so you don’t miss one, then jot down any additional queries you might have during the interview. The time taken to ask a few questions is well worth it to find the perfect agent.

It’s understandable – after finally selling your home, it can be tough to fork over the commission fee to a real estate agent. But before you fall into the FSBO trap, consider one very important thing: real estate agents can actually save you money.

That’s right.

While a commission is due at the end of the deal, the cost will pale in comparison to how much you can save through the process. Here are just a handful of ways how agents can save you cash when selling your home.

1. They’ll Price Your Home Right

Who wouldn’t want to list their home for millions of dollars, regardless of what it’s actually worth? Everyone wants to get as much money as possible for their property, but buyers aren’t dumb – they’re probably working with their own agents who are telling them what they should and shouldn’t offer on a property. There’s this little thing called ‘comparables’, and agents use them to gauge what homes are worth in a specific area. And while buyers’ agents are using these comps, so are sellers’ agents.

Here’s the rub – price your home too high, and you’ll send buyers running in the opposite direction. That leaves your home sitting on the market for weeks and even months without a bite. And the longer your home remains unsold, the more it costs you in the long run.

The other end of the spectrum is just as ugly – price your home too low, and you’re basically leaving a ton of cash on the table. The goal here is to make as much money as possible, which means you need to find that sweet spot as far as a listing price is concerned. With an experienced real estate agent on your side, you’ll have the expertise and tools necessary to price your home perfectly to get you the most money come sale time.

2. They Give You Awesome Staging Tips

The look of your home can be totally transformed with a few key pointers from your real estate agent. If you’ve had the same set-up and decor for years, that doesn’t necessarily mean that your home shows well to sellers. A seasoned agent will come in to your home and objectively gauge the space, then (nicely) tell you what’s working, and what’s not.

He or she will make suggestions about what you should get rid of and what you can keep, as well as how your present furniture should be arranged to maximize flow and functionality. Rearranging furniture to its optimal visual appeal will make your home more attractive to buyers.

Real estate agents can even bring in a professional home stager to make major changes to the space. These pros bring in their own furniture and accessories, and can make your home look like something that jumped out of a magazine. It’s a fact that homes that are well staged sell faster, and for more money compared to homes that are left as is. So it’s totally worth it to listen to staging tips from your real estate agent or stager if you want more money in your pocket at the end of the day.

3. They’ve Got Ties With Other Pros in the Industry

The savviest agents are the ones that have an arsenal of experts on the back burner to help you in all sorts of ways along the home selling journey.

Need a few repairs to your home before you put it up on the market? An agent can set you up with a contractor. Apprehensive about the mortgage process? Your agent can put you in touch with a trusted mortgage specialist. And what about all the legal stuff that comes along with selling a property and transferring title? Agents have a lawyer they can recommend to you.

Trying to find professionals such as these that are both experienced and trusted can be a full-time job. Luckily, that’s a hefty chore that you can strike off your list when you work with a competent real estate agent. Forget about throwing money in incapable hands – the experts you work with will come highly recommended, and maybe even with a discount.

4. They’ll Negotiate More Money on the Sale Price

The art of negotiation comes in really handy at the home selling table. Real estate agents are masters of this skill, and will pull all the stops to help you get the highest dollar for your home. The more money you make on your home, the more money goes into their pocket, so you can be sure that they’ll do their darnedest to squeeze every dollar out of the deal possible.

Whether the strategy is to sightly under-price the home to stimulate a bidding war, or to focus on super-motivated buyers that put up a sizeable deposit and offer a quick closing, agents are there to help put the most money in your pocket. And when it comes to deciding whether or not to accept an offer, counter it, negotiate the closing date, or change the contingencies, your agent is there to navigate these negotiations to get you the best deal.

5. They Save You Time

You’ve heard the saying before – time is money. Well, this phrase doesn’t ring any more true than during the selling process. Those who are inexperienced with the ins and outs of selling a property have no clue about how incredibly tedious and time-consuming it can be. It’s certainly not as simple as slapping up a For Sale sign, throw up a few photos online, allow the heards of buyers to flock, then accept the first offer that comes in.

There’s a lot more to it than that, and it can really suck the time out of your schedule. Who has time to take care of all the back-end stuff that comes along with successfully selling a home? Instead, leave it to a real estate agent to take care of all of that – after all, this is their full-time job, and they’re good at it.

Do yourself a favor – avoid the temptation to go the FSBO route in an effort to “save” some money. If you really want to save yourself some cash, work with an agent. Besides saving you money, real state agents will also save you a ton of hassle and headaches. That alone is well worth enlisting their services.

Pop queen Britney Spears has just landed a swanky getaway from her stint in Las Vegas: an expansive estate perched on a hilltop in Thousand Oaks, California.

The songstress dropped $7.4 million on the massive 5-bedroom, 7.5-bathroom mansion, which is situated on a 20-acre piece of land filled with olive and magnolia trees, just outside L.A.

It should come as no surprise that the “Toxic” singer would have that kind of cash lying around to spend on her new digs, considering the fact that she signed on for another 2-year residency at Vegas’ Planet Hollywood Resort.

The home has been on and off the real estate market for a couple of years now, which started off at nearly $12 million back in early 2013. So it appears as if Ms. Spears has landed herself a deal.

With 13,264 square feet, there’s plenty of room for such opulent and decadent spaces in this gem. An enormous great room with an echo-inducing 35-foot high ceiling can be accessed via the marble-floored foyer, which features a colossal fireplace surrounded by built-in media cabinets. The oak-panelled library boasts built-in bookshelves, a fireplace, and gorgeous Parquet de Versailles flooring.

The kitchen is a gourmet chef’s dream, with a sprawling center island kitchen that has all the frills a private chef would covet. A separate dining area can be accessed directly from the kitchen, which comes complete with a towering bay window and fireplace.

The majestic master suite features a fireplace, two large walk-in closets, two bathrooms, and a private balcony overlooking the rolling hills of the property. The other four bedrooms stem off of the master suite.

There’s much to look at outside the walls of this palatial palace, including hand-carved fountains, a plethora of patios with fabulous views, meticulously manicured lawns, lush flower gardens, and even an orchard.

This Italian-esque estate is meant for entertaining – there’s a large media and game room on the upper level of the main house, as well as a 1,200-square-foot poolside pavilion that’s outfitted with a full kitchen, bathroom, and a temperature-controlled wine cellar that can hold 3,500 bottles of wine. And outside, Britney and her pals can enjoy the infinity pool and spa, a motor court, a lit-up tennis court with a viewing level, and a three-green golf course.

Spears is no stranger to dabbling in SoCal real estate – she’s held title on a number of other properties in Malibu, Beverly Hills, and Hollywood, and even rented a few estates all over L.A. Just three years ago the singer dished out nearly $6.8 for a humongous Spanish-style mansion inside Sherwood Country Club’s gated community – also in Thousand Oaks.

For a lot of urban dwellers, buying a property in a common interest development (CID) is an affordable option. Not only are the prices typically a lot cheaper than your average freehold home, the location and amenities of such properties are usually a lot more desirable.

But when it comes to CIDs, there are a few options, including condominiums, strata, homeowners association (HOA) and co-op associations. Many people might use these terms interchangeably, but they actually each have their own unique characteristics.

Here’s a run-down of each, and a brief explanation of how they differ.

Condominium

A condo is a unique type of property ownership that lets the homeowner fully own an individual unit in a multi-unit complex. These owned spaces are considered to be everything inwards of the walls of the unit. Homeowners in these complexes also have undivided interest in common areas – like the lobby, elevators, hallways, and building amenities – as well as exclusive or semi-exclusive use of specific common property, including balconies, patios, parking spaces, and lockers.

These common areas are owned and managed by a condo corporation that’s made up of the owners of the units. Condos charge a fee that covers expenses such as landscaping, repairs, building and property maintenance, and charges for amenities.

Strata

Unless you live in Australia or British Columbia, Canada, there’s basically no difference between “condo” and “strata,” where the latter term also includes townhouses.

The term “strata” was initially used to describe apartment blocks that had two or more levels. But strata pretty much has the same concept as a condo, which deals with individually-owned units with shared common areas.

Homeowners Association (HOA)

HOA’s oversee any changes or developments that could and should be carried out in a shared property. It’s a non-profit organization that’s put in place to improve the overall community, and has different responsibilities and purposes than the condominium association. An HOA isn’t limited to apartments; it can be put in place in just about any residential community with homes. Unlike a condominium, HOA bylaws aren’t recorded in land records.

An HOA is a group of homeowners who live in a development or community, and are involved in the maintenance and repair of certain facilities, as well as the enforcement of the covenants and restrictions that have been previously accepted by the community.

Common areas of the development are owned by the HOA, which the lot owners do not have ownership interest in. While owners are free to use these common areas, they must do so according to the covenants and restrictions. If an owner violates these regulations, these rights can be suspended.

Like condo associations, HOAs charge owners a set of monthly fees to help cover the expense of maintaining the property and carrying out any necessary repairs. However, these fees are typically a lot less compared to those of a condo association because of the reduced maintenance, repair, and insurance obligations of the HOA.

Co-Op Associations

A co-op association owns a certain property and its common areas and facilities. Residents own a share in the co-op association in order to be allowed to occupy a unit. They are free to use all common amenities, and can even vote in members to be a part of the Board of Directors.

The major difference between cooperative housing associations and condos is the fact that residents do not actually own the units – instead, they merely have a share in the co-op.

Basically, residents in a co-op association buy shares in a not-for-profit corporation, and have the right to lease their units within the complex. The monthly fees that are charged not only cover maintenance and repair costs, but also mortgage payments, taxes, and management fees, which is why they’d typically be a lot higher compared to those of a condo.

Shares in a co-op association are considered intangible personal property, which means residents most likely wouldn’t be able to get a line of credit or home equity loan against ownership because nothing is actually owned. Any shares in a co-op would be passed on to an executor after the resident passes on, which are then subject to certain regulations.

Don’t just assume that every complex that involves the sharing of common areas is necessarily a “condo.” Make sure you understand that these separate options are available to you, and that each come with their own sets of traits. Do your homework to find out what these differences are so you can be sure to pick the one that’s right for you. Luckily, your real estate agent will be able to cut trough the confusion and lead you in the right direction when it comes to home ownership.

In a strong seller’s market, homes that are priced right and show nicely typically sell within the first four weeks of being on the market. If this time frame comes and goes with no successful offer, sellers will most likely become frustrated, and even start contemplating the possibility of just taking the property off the market for a little while and try again some time in the near future.

The truth is, you can realistically sell your home in any market, if you get yourself a solid real estate agent and use a few proven tactics to garner more serious interest in your home.

So, should you take your home off the market if it’s not selling?

Before you make such a major decision, have a look at a few reasons why your home isn’t selling first.

The Listing Price is Way Off

Lots of homeowners hold emotional ties to their properties and genuinely think that their homes are worth more than they really are. And of course, everyone wants to get as much money from the sale of their home as possible, and demand that their agents slap a hefty price tag on the listing.

Unfortunately, nothing will cause a lagging listing more than a listing price that’s too high for the current market. If your home’s been sitting on the market for weeks – or longer – without a nibble, the first thing you should do is look at the listing price and determine whether or not it’s too high.

If so, it’s time to shave a few bucks off.

Your real estate agent will be able to pull a report of the recent comparable sales in the neighborhood. Be sure that you ask no more than 5 to 10 percent over the previous top selling price. And don’t have the most expensive listing on the block, either – buyers are looking at the same comparables, so you don’t want to scare them off before they’ve even seen your property.

Price point is critical – if you don’t price your home properly, you’re pretty much asking for a stale listing.

Your Home Doesn’t Show Well

Aside from setting an accurate price point, making sure that your home is properly staged is absolutely essential. Nobody wants to pull up to a home with overgrown weeds and pet excrement in the front yard. Nor do they want to walk inside and see yesterday’s laundry piled up on the couch, or a stack of dirty dishes piled up in the sink.

Granted, these scenarios are pretty outrageous (though they do happen), but even simple things like a cracking door, broken window blind, or orange walls will throw buyers off.

Take a second gander at your home and make sure that you’ve tackled everything as far as staging is concerned. Is the lawn well manicured? Is the house clean and tidy? Are the colors neutralized?

Don’t leave your home in the morning without making sure that all beds are made, dishes are washed and put away, and counters are clear. You just never know when a last-minute showing is booked, giving you no time to run back from the office to clear the place up before the buyer show up.

When in doubt, have your home staged by a professional home stager.

The Place is Outdated

Houses that feature outdated kitchens and bathrooms will usually sit on the market longer than more modern properties, or even wind up selling at a lower price.

It’s possible that your home may need some upgrades, but you’ll also need to be realistic with both your time and your budget. Make sure that whatever money you’re spending is a wise investment.

The rule of thumb is to avoid huge projects that will be super expensive. Perform as many small home improvements as you realistically can, and look for improvements that will most likely make your home move-in ready as far as potential homebuyers are concerned.

Typically, the most valuable home improvements include painting, replacing or refacing a worn-out front door, touching up faded siding, refacing kitchen cabinets and countertops, and replacing hardware in the kitchen and bathroom. You probably won’t recoup as much of the cost if you add a bathroom, sunroom, or gutted the kitchen.

Don’t Put a Cap on Your Options

If you’ve absolutely tried everything, and your home still isn’t selling, consider hedging your bets and putting your home up for sale and for rent at the same time.

If you’ve already vacated the property, or need to relocate soon, maybe renting out your home could be a realistic approach. That is, of course, if your finances support such an option.

Putting the house up for rent and for sale at the same time can give the potential clientele a trial rental period. Perhaps your particular market is experiencing a temporary slowdown, but the rental market is really strong. If you’re able to carry two mortgages, you could allow your home to act as an investment property while buying time until next year when the market has (hopefully) picked up for sellers.

In the meantime, let the renters pay your mortgage for you while your home continues to build equity. If you find a renter and get a lease signed, your lender will be much more likely to approve you for second mortgage to keep the home while you start your life elsewhere.

Make sure you exhaust all efforts to make your home as attractive as possible – both esthetically and price wise – and get yourself a skilled real estate agent on your team. Sometimes all it takes is a temporary time-out from the market to make a few tweaks to the place and the listing, then put it back up on the market in a few weeks to get a fresh start.