Q: My husband and I have had our house listed with an agent for almost a year, but he's shown the house only five times. We are planning to list with someone else as soon as this contract is up. Any suggestions on who to list with or what questions to ask to get a good REALTORŪ who will get our house sold?

A: Ask family, friends, co-workers, other professionals you've hired -- people you trust -- for referrals. Get several referrals. The key is to seek out home sellers who've recently had a positive experience with an agent who knows and works your neighborhood full time.

Let the agent know you want to interview him or her for 45 minutes to an hour. Arrange a telephone or in-person interview, depending upon your comfort level. Arranging an interview is another test to give you some indication of the Realtors willingness to spend time with you and it will clue you to his or her punctuality, traits you'll need when the deal gets under way.

Find out if the agent is a Realtor or just a licensed real estate agent. The primary differences are membership to the Multiple Listing Service and as important, the legal and ethical standards required of a Realtor. If you would be uncomfortable going to a doctor who wasn't a member of the AMA you might not want just a real estate agent to handle the sale of your home.

Ask the agent/Realtor for numbers of homes found for buyers and numbers, types and styles of homes sold for sellers in your neighborhood. Don't let the answer come in a dollar amount. A "million dollar" agent in California could have sold only one to four homes all year. Ask about listings that haven't sold. Ask why. Don't blame the agent for homes that were overpriced and sellers who've refused to reduce the price to a fair market value.

Inquire about the agent's knowledge about financing, including financing programs, creative financing, mortgage brokers and lenders and other financial details your buyer may need. Get the agent to explain to you how he or she will tackle the task of selling your home. Ask about any systems or technology used to keep the sales marketing and transaction negotiations operating smoothly.

Ask to see logs, checklists, worksheets and other tools the Realtor uses to keep track of the details. Determine how often the Realtor will report to you on sales activity or buying leads. You'll have to determine how much is enough for you. Before you make your final decision, don't overlook your gut feelings. Consider how well the Realtor/agent listened to your anxieties, fears and concerns. You want to feel that the agent cares more about your goals than collecting the commission.