By John Groth
Finding and selecting a home will probably be the biggest financial decision you'll ever make. As a corollary, the importance of selecting the right realtor goes right along with the overall home buying decision. Here are some simple steps you can take to help you find a realtor that will help you make the correct home buying decision.
First you need to find at least three realtors. Talk to friends, co-workers, acquaintances or neighbors that recently bought or sold a home. What were they happy with, what problems did they have? What would they do differently next time? Did the realtor follow through on their promises? Now with your short list make appointments to interview the three or more of the best candidates.
Prepare you list of questions. Based on your conversations with others compare what they thought was important to your needs in buying a home. In the interview with the candidates approach the meeting the same way you would as if you were hiring someone. Of course that's exactly what you are doing. They will be working on the real estate buying or selling project for you.
What to look for in a realtor? They should have a reasonable level of experience. Find out what plans they have to market your home. It is advisable to find a someone with broad experience. Inquire about whether or not the realtor is a full time agent, or if he or she has limited hours to spend on the purchase or sale of your home. Ask them about plans for an open house or if you will be able to reach the realtor before or after normal business hours.
Recently in talking with a friend who told me his son had moved into a home about three years ago and used a local realtor to help him find the home. He was now being transferred and without going through a reasonable selection process elected to give the listing to the former realtor. It was a big mistake. Even in a relatively hot real estate market the home was not marketed properly. The realtor was "resting on his laurels" and did not have nearly the sense of urgency his son had. Consequently when the listing ran out the son properly researched and found another realtor who helped sell the house in three weeks at the asking price.
A part time agent and those who work less than full-time are going to be usually less familiar with the market and the secrets of the trade. Also, it is important to have an agent who is able to show the home on the schedule of potential buyers. Do not hire an agent that will make you and other buyers work on his or her schedule because there are agents who will work with your schedule? This can significantly improve the chances of a faster, more lucrative sale. Find a realtor who will work for you. You should also consider the fee that they will charge.
You are also not just hiring a realtor. You are also hiring an agency. You should ask certain questions about the agency to decide which one is ideal for you. The agency that you hire needs to have enough financial power to be able to properly market your home. Bigger agencies will be able to pay for bigger and better ads.
Overall, the selection of the realtor many times is critical in marketing and selling your house or in helping you find exactly the home you want at the right price. Do your homework and you'll get the best results.
John Groth is a Relocation Specialist. Go to Relocation and Moving Ideas and find valuable resources, a free money saving relocation guide and informative articles about business and individual moving and relocation. For a Smooth Move we have all the information to help you in planning your move. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Groth |
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