You’ve picked a good time to put your house on the market: Prospective buyers might be few, but low interest rates guarantee that they’re serious about their business.

They’re picky, though: They want what they want, and they want it now.

So you want the best real estate agent you can find, someone who knows the business inside out. From Ohio’s thousands of agents, how are you going to select the one that’s right for you?

You can start the old-fashioned way, by asking around. While that’s the perennial first-place winner in the find-an-agent game, it isn’t necessarily the best way at the moment. What is the likelihood that a friend, relative or acquaintance has recently dealt with a real estate agent?

“The Internet changed the game for everyone,” said Re/Max Haven Realty agent Rob Gallman — meaning that rustling up prospective agents requires more than putting the word out.

Browse the local real estate websites to see who’s listing homes in your area, however you define it— by suburb, township or neighborhood with a park or school. Drive  around your area to look for agents’ names on “For Sale” signs. Someone whose name you see on several signs just might be the hard worker you need.

Carve out time to make the rounds at Sunday open houses, too, suggested Howard Hanna agent Sally Essreg.

“You can actually meet the Realtors and see how they represent the house,” she said “And if the house is their listing, you can see the quality of materials they put out.”

Once you’ve gotten a good handful of possibilities, Essreg suggested reviewing the online photographs of houses in their current listings. These photos can give you a good idea of how they’ll present your home. Note how many photos are posted and the architectural details highlighted. The more the merrier.

“It’s critically important how your house looks online,” she said, because it’s the buyer’s equivalent of a first visit.      

When you’ve found two or three prospective agents, it’s time to invite them to your home for interviews — one at a time, please.

Here’s a list of the most important questions you should ask. It’s advisable to write them on a legal pad, leaving space for answers, and fill in the blanks during the interview.  It will be easier to compare agents if you don’t have to rely on memory.

• Are you a full-time agent? A full-time agent is more likely to be up-to-date on market data, said Keller Williams agent Brian Salem of the Salem team. And full-time agents hypothetically have more listings than part-timers; the more listings, the more buyer inquiries they’re bound to field, giving your home more exposure.
• What’s your track record? You need to know how long an agent has been in real estate and how many houses they sell each year, on average. You want an agent with experience and hustle.
• How will you market my home?  Prospective buyers have become adept at combing Internet housing sites, including zillow.com, trulia.com, realtor.com, homes.com and even craigslist.com, so your house had better be there. And it better look great.
• Will the marketing photos be taken by a professional, and how many will be used online?  This shows whether the agent can afford to promote your home to the fullest extent. “Everyone can be on realtor.com, but not everyone puts up 25 photos,” Gallman said.
• What low-tech marketing approaches will you use?  You should expect print advertising, open houses, flyers and the all-important front-yard sign.
• What do you suggest my list price should be and why? Here’s where an agent’s experience and knowledge of the real estate market and economic conditions comes into play. An agent should be able to explain how your home compares to others in the area, and how the differences affect your price. He or she should guide you toward a realistic initial figure;  a smart agent doesn’t want to invest in marketing your home at an unrealistic price.
• How do other considerations come into play? “If you want to sell quickly, you’ll have to take less money,” Gallman said. “You don’t have the time to wait for that extra $5,000. But if you’re just down-sizing, you’ve probably got all the time in the world.” Howard Hanna agent Sally Messinger echoes that advice: “You really do want someone who is honest with you.  “If the agent lets you start at $300,000, and you have to drop the price, you’ve wasted time.”
• What should I do to my home to help it sell?  An agent should be able to survey your home and make suggestions. “We know how buyers respond,” Messinger said. “They want painted walls, no wallpaper, no brass chandeliers, no frou-frou curtains. Everyone wants granite countertops, too. No white walls. Go for greens, taupes, Williamsburg colors.” Make the improvements necessary, or your house could be on the market a very long time. Today’s buyer doesn’t want to have to make improvements.
• If improvements are necessary, can you help me find good contractors to make them? Good agents are able to save you time and money by referring you to various craftsmen and businesses they’ve cultivated. It’s a helpful perk.
• Will you be present when the appraiser and city inspector come to my home? These are not the most comfortable experiences, so it’s a bonus if your realtor says yes.
• How much will your services cost? Commissions are negotiable. If a realtor offers a dramatically lower commission percentage than most others you’ve talked to, remember that you usually get what you pay for.