CAROL PRAIL, CRS,
CRP, ABR 
"Your Realtor for Life"
How to Choose A Realtor.
Many of the same questions, hesitations and
strategies connected with seeking out professional assistance in
any field - whether you're looking for a doctor, dentist, lawyer
or accountant - come into play when you're selecting a real
estate agent.
Some people find an agent through a family
member or friend. This is often a reliable approach. But you
might not always find the most compatible assistance this way.
And in a transaction as important and intensive as buying and
selling a home, that can be critical.
A referral from a family member or friend
doesn't guarantee a perfect match. Just think of something as
simple as a movie or restaurant recommendation. Your close
friends rave about a new Chinese food place downtown - so you
check it out. Could this possibly be he same restaurant they were
describing? Mediocre service. No chopsticks. Bland flavors. It's
the same restaurant. Same cook. Same waiters. Just different
perceptions.
Regardless of how you get an agent's name, it
might be worth interviewing at least a couple before you make a
final decision - or at least arming yourself with some criteria
to go over with an agent who has been recommended to you.
A few things to look
for:
- If you're looking for an agent to list
your home, be wary of anyone who suggests they can get an
unreasonably high sales price. An agent might use a high
listing price to secure a contract, only to seek a lower
price later, after little traffic is generated at the
initial price level. Meanwhile, you've lost what can be
the most critical time period in selling a home - the
first weeks immediately after it's listed.
- Check on experience, education and
productivity. As with most professions, experience pays
in real estate. Experienced agents know the market and
the marketing process. They'll have the best chance of
quickly and smoothly helping you to buy or sell your
home.
- Designations - such as the Graduate
Realtor Institute (GRI); Certified Residential Specialist
(CRS); Certified Relocation Professional (CRP) suggest an
expertise and commitment that goes beyond just earning
and maintaining a real estate license.
- The number of transactions an agent is
handling monthly or yearly is going to give you an
indication of how committed the agent is to the
profession. Is the agent a part-time who's just dabbling
in real estate sales - or is the agent a full-time
professional whose livelihood depends entirely on an
ability to successfully and repeatedly close real estate
transactions?
- If you're a buyer - does the agent offer
buyer agency? More and more buyers are deciding they want
full contractual representation on the same level as the
seller. Be sure to discuss buyer agency with any agent
you're thinking about working with.
- Does the agent know the market? Is the
agent active in soliciting business in your neighborhood?
Do you see the agent's yard signs around the
neighborhood?
- Is the agent part of a national network?
This can be especially important if you're selling in one
city in preparation of moving to another. your selling
agent can refer you to a professional, compatible agent
in your destination city - and keep in close contact with
that agent so both your selling and buying efforts are
closely coordinated.
- And a final point: Does the agent seem
primarily interested in sharing expertise and market
knowledge in an honest and straightforward manner? Or
does the agent seem more interested in telling you what
you want to hear - or spend a lot of effort trying to
market additional products and services? The worst time
to secure the services of a "yes-man" or an
agent who seems to have a bit too many irons in the fire
is when you're entering a transaction involving something
as expensive as your home. You need straightforward,
reliable information - even if it's not necessarily
flattering regarding the home you're selling - or very
encouraging regarding a home you think you might want to
buy.
If you're looking for an agent, or are in need
of information about buying or selling a home, a great place to
start is this Web Site.
Carol Prail has been a licensed Realtor
since 1979. Contact Carol for professional real estate services nationwide.
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