Choosing the Right Realtor for You
Many underestimate the jobs of the realtor and the mortgage consultant. Oftentimes behind the scenes the realtor and loan officer are the glue that keeps the entire transaction together.
The first thing to realize, and you may already know, is that realtors, real estate agents, and real estate broker are not the same thing. Real estate agents have obtained the necessary licenses to act in your best interest--to sell a property, to buy a property. A realtor is a real estate agent that in addition to obtaining the necessary licenses, has also gone through more training and certification courses through the National Association of Realtors. A real estate broker is an individual with even more training than the previous two and has a different license than a real estate agent or realtor. It is not their level of education or training that oftentimes matters the most, it is more often their level of dedication, service, and attention they are willing to give you that will most affect your decision.
As you can see, finding the right realtor can get very difficult what with the thousands of realtors, real estate agents, and real estate brokers out there today. Here are just some tips on how to find and choose the right realtor for you:
Identify realtor(s) you would be interested in and be prepared to do some legwork. Whether you just felt a gut instinct when you see a realtor's picture in a magazine or you feel an instant connection when you meet a realtor off chance, or you got a referral from a friend or family member, you have to first identify the realtor(s) that you want to consider working with on this very important step in your life.
Interview the realtor(s). Just like a mortgage consultant, it is important that you feel comfortable and feel you can trust your real estate agent or realtor. You and your agent will be working together very closely from beginning to end so if you don't feel comfortable with them now then it will only get worse later. By interviewing the agent you are giving yourself to chance to find someone you know will give you the service and the attention you deserve. Don't forget to have a list of questions prepared for the realtor(s) you interview. Remember, the most important question is not "How much will you be able to sell my property for?" Realtors or salespersons can always say they can sell a property for any amount, it is whether or not their level of service, attention to detail, and dedication are sufficient enough to successfully sell your property to your satisfaction. Some other questions you may want to consider asking:
1) If you are a buyer, how many listings have you prepared for me to take a look at?
2) If you are a seller, how do you plan on advertising my home to reach the most buyers?
3) Does the realtor have any references you may contact?
4) Do you feel comfortable with the realtor? Do you feel like you can trust him/her?
Analyze realtors' experience. The more experience a realtor has, the better they will be able to serve you. This is not always true since there are many agents out there that are very talented in the ways of negotiation (for buyers) or design (for sellers), but it is important to remember that experience is basically practice. And practice makes perfect. Though there is never a level of perfection in real estate, your experience will be better if the agent has the knowledge to provide it to you.
Look for commitment. This is one of the more difficult things to look for since anyone in front of you will be able to show commitment in person but when over the phone or in another city, it proves much different. So make sure to notice the little things--eye contact, level of preparation, references for example. These things will help you determine how committed the agent usually is to clients and will help you make a better decision.
Find out about the agents' working schedule. Make sure the agent can accommodate your schedule. If the agent only works on weekdays and you can only view properties on the weekends, then you are not maximizing the use of your agent. If compromise is your middle name, then perhaps evenings will work for both you and your agent, but remember if you are seller, how does the agent intend on holding open houses?
Agents and mortgage consultants are essentially the glue that holds your transaction together. They take care of all the details to make sure that you do not feel how time-consuming the process can oftentimes be, which is a major part of choosing the right realtor for you.
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