Choosing a Realtor

When the time comes to sell their home (quite possibly the largest financial investment a person might ever make) the homeowner could benefit from acting like the process is a business transaction, because it is! This is one very good reason that people should hire a Realtor. The Realtor will take the emotion out of the transaction and stick to the “Business” of selling the home.
But how do you pick that one special person? Stick with a business plan of sorts. There are many places to find the names of Realtors, such as the phone book, real estate publications, etc. But would you pick your doctor that way? Probably not. Word of mouth is a very powerful tool. Ask friends and co workers for the name of someone they have done business within the past. And ask them if they would use them again. While the Realtor may have successfully closed the deal, were the buyer/seller they represented happy with things overall?
I’d recommend getting two or three names, and then sitting down with each and interview them. Yes, I said interview them. You are hiring them to do a job. Here is a list of some questions that I’d recommend asking, and explanations as to why.
1. How long have they been in the real estate business? A newer Realtor might have more time to dedicate to selling your home, but an experienced one will know the ins and outs and will have a streamlined process.
2. Do they work full time as a Realtor? In this tough economy, many Realtors that may have had marginal track records are finding that they need to hold a “steady day job” to survive. If they have to commit to someone else, where does that leave you?
3. Do they work nights and weekends? Buyers typically want to look at homes at night and weekends, when they don’t have to work. So it is important for a Realtor to be available then. One of the things that a lot of Realtors enjoy is the flexibility of the job. Doing an open house on a Sunday is offset by free time later in the week. Or showing a house at night allows time to get the kids off to school in the mornings.
4. What education, training, and certificates do they hold? Accreditations such as ABR, CRS, or GRI show that the Realtor is committed to learning all they can about the profession they have chosen AND that they desire to stay up to date with their industry.
5. Do they specialize in a particular type of real estate? I can tell you right now, someone that does commercial properties is not going to be the best choice for selling a residential property.
6. Do they have a list of vendors they work with? Sometimes when a home is under contract, a repair item comes up that a home owner isn’t prepared for, knows nothing about, and would like some guidance. Most Realtors I have dealt with have a list of companies they have done business with and are happy with the service they received. Sometimes, these companies will even provide a discount to homeowners because the referring party has sent a substantial amount of business their way. Keep in mind though, the final decision on who does what is always up to the homeowner.

This is part 1 of 3 for this series. Next week I’ll continue on with the list.