A qualified and competent Realtor® or property management professional will help you navigate the myriad of decisions that arise when buying, renting or selling real estate. A good agent provides value to the home owner in so many ways...
- We cover the costs of all marketing and advertising.
- We aggressively market your property with appropriate methods such as MLS, websites, print ads and/or signs
- Add experience and expertise in all aspects of the sales or leasing process including marketing, transaction management, negotiations and advice.
- Handle the showings of your Home.
- Bring a network of known, trusted real estate professionals. If your agent doesn't have the answer, he or she likely knows someone who does.
- Always have your interests in mind so you always have someone on your side.
- We can handle and advise on all price and contract negotiations (except for legal counsel).
- Provide you with all the possible options and opportunities without holding back.
- Give an unbiased, realistic view of your home and your options. Unlike buyers, sellers or tenants, an agent has no emotional attachment to property.
- We have the knowledge to help you ask the right questions.
- Being a third party, potential buyers or tenants are more likely to tell us the truth about your home, even if it is unflattering. This objective viewpoint will help you make the necessary changes to get your home closed.
- Your time is valuable. We allow you to spend your time how you want while we co-ordinate your transaction.
Here are some tips for choosing an Agent from the National Association of Realtors®:
Five Reasons You Need a Real Estate Agent
1. A real estate transaction is complicated. In most cases, buying or selling a home requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page government-mandated settlement statements. A knowledgeable guide through this complexity can help you avoid delays or costly mistakes. 2. Selling or buying a home is time consuming. Even in a strong market, homes in our area can stay on the market for 30-90 days. And it usually takes another 45 days or so for the transaction to close after an offer is accepted. 3. Real estate has its own language. If you don’t know a "CMA" from a "PUD", you can understand why it’s important to work with someone who speaks that language. 4. REALTORS® have done it before. Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. And even if you’ve done it before, laws and regulations change. That’s why having an expert on your side is critical. 5. REALTORS® provide objectivity. Since a home often symbolizes family, rest, and security, not just four walls and roof, home selling or buying is often a very emotional undertaking. And for most people, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you keep focused on both the business and emotional issues most important to you. Questions to Ask When Choosing a Real Estate Practitioner
1. How long have you been in residential real estate sales? Is it your full-time job? (While experience is no guarantee of skill, real estate, like many other professions, is mostly learned on the job.) 2. Are you a REALTOR®? (Members of the National Association of REALTORS®, a trade organization of more than 1,000,000 members nationwide, subscribe to a stringent code of ethics that helps guarantee the highest level of service and integrity.) 3. What designations do you hold? (Designations such as GRI and CRS, which require that agents take additional, specialized real estate training, are held by only about one-quarter of real estate practitioners.) 4. How many homes did you and your company sell last year? 5. How many days did it take you to sell the average home? How did that compare to the overall market? 6. How close to the initial asking prices of the homes you sold were the final sale prices? 7. What types of specific marketing systems and approaches will you use to sell my home? (Look for someone who has aggressive, innovative approaches, not just someone who’s going to put a sign in the yard and hope for the best.) 8. Will you represent me exclusively, or will you represent both the buyer and the seller in the transaction? (While it’s usually legal to represent both parties in a transaction, it’s important to understand where the agent’s obligations lie. A good agent will explain the agency relationship to you and describe the rights of each party. It’s also possible to insist that the agent represent you exclusively.) 9. Can you recommend service providers who can assist me in obtaining a mortgage, making repairs on my home, and other things I need done? (Keep in mind here that agents should generally recommend more than one provider and should tell you if they receive any compensation from any provider.) 10. What type of support and supervision does your brokerage office provide to you? (Having resources such as in-house support staff, access to a real estate attorney, or assistance with technology can help an agent sell your home.) 11. What’s your business philosophy? (While there’s no right answer to this question, the response will help you assess what’s important to the agent—fast sales, service, etc.—and determine how closely the agent’s goals and business emphasis mesh with your own.) 12. How will you keep me informed about the progress of my transaction? How frequently? Using what media? (Again, this is not a question with a correct answer, but that one reflects your desires. Do you want updates twice a week or don’t want to be bothered unless there’s a hot prospect? Do you prefer phone, e-mail, or a personal visit?) 13. Could you please give me the names and phone numbers of your three most recent clients?
Excerpt from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2003. All rights reserved.
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