Though opening your phone book to find a realtor may seem logical, the high number of listings can be overwhelming and confusing to first-time homesellers and buyers. In the Lawrence yellow pages alone, there are more than 200 listings under ‘real estate.’

But there are ways to find a reliable, knowledgeable realtor through the Internet, friends and family and other resources, said Doug Stephens, president of Steven’s Real Estate in Lawrence.

Here are just a few key attributes to look for when choosing a realtor.

The National Association of Realtors Web site, at www.realtor.com is a good place to start, Stephens said.

“Being a member of NAR means we have to follow a code of ethics that goes substantially above and beyond what state and local laws say,” Stephens said.

The Web site allows you to search for a realtor by city and state as well as community or neigborhood, presence on the World Wide Web and professional certifications.

Stephens also suggested looking for realtors who have been in Lawrence for a long time. Those realtors should have the best knowledge of the area, schools, conveniences and home values in town. They can also show you around the area better than a new resident can.

Often, realtors specialize in different types of property, and home buyers and sellers should pay attention to the type of clients their potential realtor works with. People looking to purchase a new home may not want to work with someone who specializes in commercial properties.

Some realtor’s can also work as buyer’s agents. A buyer’s agent can be helpful with the negotiations proceess, inspections, tracking loans and helping with the closing, but sometimes their services may cost a little bit more.

And then there’s what Stephen’s called the “trust factor.” If you do not feel that you are able to communicate with your realtor effectively, find someone else. Recommendations from friends and neighbors can help in this area.

Other helpful Web sites include hometown.lawrence.com, where you can search for real estate agents and properties. Also, look at homebuying.about.com for more advice on relationships between buyers and agents. For more information, call the Lawrence Board of Realtors at (785) 842-1843.