Remember one thing, 'the older the violin, the sweeter the music'
Hello Readers,
I've been in the business quite sometime now. And I have strived to be a Realtor people would want to use and I have been successful enough. However, I am going to step back and look at things a little differently. I want to look at choosing a Realtor through the customers point of view.
CLIENT
1) Customer vs Client
That is the #1 thing I want to know going into this. As a person choosing a Realtor, I need to know am I a customer or a client? When I sit down to interview you, or when I call you and talk to you on the phone what is my status with you? When do you start working for me?
REALTOR
I start working for you when we sign the paperwork. Until then you are a customer. If you are a seller interviewing me for a possible listing, you are still a customer until we sign the listing contract. If you are a buyer seeking representation and want to look at homes, you are still a customer until we sign a buyer's agency agreement contract. Contracts are there to protect your interests and to insure that I am working for you.
CLIENT
2) Realtor vs Real Estate Agent
I have a friend who is a real estate agent that works for themself. They can save me money on commission. I have thought about using other agents, but I don't want to hurt my friends feelings, plus I trust this friend. Why would I hire you over them?
REALTOR
I would never discourage you from using your friend as your agent. On that point you need to go with your gut feelings. However, as much as you trust and admire your friend I would encourage you to ask your friend if they hold the Realtor status. A Realtor adheres to the Code of Ethics established specifically for real estate agents to serve clients fairly. You can find all the information you need about Realtors and the Code of Ethics on the website for National Association of Realtors, www.realtors.org. Realtors also have to complete the Code of Ethics class periodically to stay up-to-date on any changes made. A Realtor also has more experience about the home buying and selling process, including finding you financing, helping you negotiate, markets your property to other real estate agents, knowing the ins and outs in advertsing your property, have resources readily available in marketing your home to name a few.
CLIENT
3) Marketing my house at my price
I need to get my home sold quickly, but I have put a lot of renovations into it and I cannot afford to take a loss. What is your success rate in selling quickly?
REALTOR
I hear you asking me what is my success rate in selling quickly and can I sell your home without taking a loss on your expenses for renovations. First of all, my success rate is directly affected by the market and by the price and condition of your home. I cannot and will not tell you that I can sell your home in 60 days, 120 days or less. I will however, do my very level best to price your home to sell, use all of my marketing skills and give you my best comparative market analysis of your home to help you get it sold as quickly as possible. Comparing your home to others similar to yours in your market area of homes sold and active is the best indicator of what price we may be able to ask for it in order to get it sold more quickly. However, in a buyers market homes do take longer to sell. Depending on how quickly you need to sell and how willing you are to negotiate will also be a factor. But I will promise you this, I will always be honest with you and tell you what I think you need to do to get your home sold, even if it is something I know you will not want to hear.
CLIENT
4) Buyer Agency Written vs Implied
I want to look at homes for sale, but I am not signing anything. I may want to call an agent off a sign I see and get them to show me the home. I want the freedom to use whoever I want whenever I want.
REALTOR
My answer to that is go for it. But please remember one thing, contracts protect your best interest. Using random Realtors to look at homes without signing a contract may imply agency agreement, but until you sign a contract, that Realtor is working for the seller and can tell that seller anything you say to get that seller the best possible price on their home. A Realtor that asks you to sign a Buyer's Agency Agreement with them is telling you that they want to ensure you the best services possible for you. When you are seriously looking to buy a home, my advice to you is to use one Realtor exclusively, build a rapport with them, ask lots of questions, sign the agency agreement contract and let that Realtor be the one to negotiate for you.
CLIENT
5) Experience vs Designations
I want to know how much experience you have as a Realtor and do you hold any designations.
REALTOR
Very good question and thanks for asking that. Yes, I do hold designations. I worked for my designations and acquired them after several years of experience. I currently have been in the business for 11 years and hold three designations. I have owned my own business, been a Broker in Charge for two years, and have worked for an independently owned company of a major chain of Real Estate Companies, plus I have worked for two independently owned local companies. This gives me a wide range of experience and better equips me to be competitive with other Realtors. I decided to acquire my designations after a few years of experience because I realized that anybody can earn a designation, but to understand what that meant needed to be coupled with experience. I look at it this way, a designation doesn't do me any good without the practical experience to back it up. This is a double edged sword. After achieving the designations I also became a better Realtor by putting what I learned to work for me.
CLIENT
6) Networking, MLS, Internet Marketing, Advertising
How do I know as a seller that you are going to have the resources, data base and buyers to get my home sold?
REALTOR
Realtors use many different techniques for getting a home sold. One of course is the local mls or multiple listing service. Once a home is entered here it is syndicated to several national websites like Realtor.com and national website chains. Homes I list are also entered on my personal website along with the agency website which is then syndicated to over 300 other listing websites, such as Oodle, Yahoo, MSN, etc. I also do paper advertising in addition to the agencies paper advertising. But, I feel that one of the most successful things I can do to get buyers for your home is to market to the people who live and visit in your market area. Therefore, I do a lot of local networking. I belong to the local Chamber of Commerce and stay active in their events. I belong to a Professional Networking group made up of business people from all over the area and stay in contact with them. I organize events such as 5K races and balloon events for the schools. Staying active in the community provides me opportunities to meet people everyday that may be looking for a home just like yours. There is no magic formula to finding buyers, but there are always ways of meeting people and introducing them to the many homes for sale.
To sum it all up, when you are interviewing a Realtor to use in buying or selling, ask a few important questions. Make sure the Realtor explains agency relationships to you. Know whether or not you are ready to be represented and sign a contract. Ask about their experience and if you want, ask for references. These are just a few things to think about when choosing a Realtors.
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