I need a real estate shark... How to find?
I hope using the term shark is not offensive.

I am in ATL.

I Know nothing about real estate or associated pursuits.

I am sitting on a plumb and I don't know how to capitalize on it.

I am starting the accelerated process of interviewing people in the industry to help me get the most from what I have. I have 2 soft offers on a small piece of commercial property very near the former GM plant(285 and Peachtree)

My question is:

Since I know nothing about this how do I determine if the person/agent I am speaking to does know?

Is there a rating system?

 Do I judge by name recognition or what?

 I get one shot at this and I need to make it count.

Your help in this matter is appreciated.
[{"id": "cwp4irj", "text": "You are looking for an agent to help you on the sale side? Best thing is also to get a reputable broker that knows their stuff. How do you find one? Ask other owners or start calling brokerages but don't mention that you have something to sell. Simply interview them and ask questions about how they do business, what they specialize in, (industrial, retail, multi family, etc.) and then if you jive with a specific broker, and he seems enthusiastic and helpful, you have found a match. ", "replies": [{"id": "cwpdlo2", "text": "Yes, I would like to sell this property. I did some searching online and a company called CBRE has been voted top in ATL, 13 years running.\n", "replies": [{"id": "cwpxysc", "text": "CBRE would be a good place to start, but make sure you are realistic about the type of broker you need. If you have an idea of what your property may be worth multiply it by .03 and half of that number is what the broker will most likely be making on the commission. If that number is in the &lt;$10,000 range expect to have your deal passed from a middle level broker to a junior broker. If it's in the 10-30k range you will probably end up with a mid level broker. Anything above that you may end up with a top broker. Also, they will look at future deals. If this is a one time thing for you expect to have your deal passed around. If you show promise of future deals an upper level broker may work on a smaller commission. A lot of the brokers may pass on the deal for the sole reason that you do not have any experience in real estate deals, so they may have to spend more time guiding you through the process which costs them time and money.", "replies": [{"id": "cwq5rwf", "text": "Thus was very helpful. Thx.\n\nBased on the 2 soft offers and your commission math, right now, the comm would be $7,500.\n\nI am not the owner. It belongs to my my father-in-law. He is 78 and not as sharp as he once was... Especially in real estate where he has made a couple of mistakes, one of which is still causing him problems 30 years later.\n\nI suspect, due to the massive development that is being built half a mile away, and to several other factors, it is worth more, maybe much more, than 500k.\n\nIt could potentially be a mini Starbucks or some such other thing. Sell or lease. Develope it yourself. The possibilities are many.\n\nIt's not my gig and unless asked to step in and take over I have no real interest in thus project. I just don't want my in-laws to not maximize the potential of what has fallen into their lap.", "replies": [{"id": "cwr38bg", "text": "Typo?\n\nCommission on $500k deal would be $7,500", "replies": [{"id": "cwr568x", "text": "Oops... Yup, sorry. Corrected.", "replies": [{"id": "cwuq158", "text": "you'll pay 30k which will be split between the brokers in most markets. \n\nThe typo's and edits are confusing me maybe.  \n\nI just wanted to make sure you weren't expecting to pay 7500 to broker a 500k piece of land  ", "replies": [], "depth": 7}], "depth": 6}], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}, {"id": "cws8kyk", "text": "Whomever you hire, you'll want to understand who will actually be running the deal on your behalf. You might get pitched by a senior broker who specializes in presenting, but his junior might not be nearly as good.\n", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "cwp4lbz", "text": "I'm across the country but I know of one specific broker in Georgia that may be able to help. Not sure how to send pm on mobile so if you send me one, I will get the name when I'm back on desktop", "replies": [{"id": "cwq5xh0", "text": "Thank you.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}]