Selecting A Realtor
February 28, 2010 by Gary Busker · Leave a Comment
When it comes to selecting a Realtor there are many questions that need to be answered. The first one is simply where to start.
Personal referrals are the best. Ask your friends if they have any Realtors they have done business with. What did they like or dislike about them. What can they recall that the Realtor or Agent did to market their house that possibly seemed above and beyond?
If you can get no referrals the next calculated step would be to pick up your Sunday paper and look to see what company has the most homes for sale. You may also research on the Internet by simply doing a GOOGLE search for Real Estate Companies in your area.
If you are coming from another town you may stop in to your local brokerage and ask them if they have a referral network with any agencies located in the town you are looking to move to.
Contact the selected companies and ask them about how they educate their Realtors. Look for a company that holds regularly scheduled structured classes. It is important to work with well trained professionals that are kept up to date on industry changes and the latest marketing techniques.
Ask about their fee schedule, are they percentage based or flat rate. Look for the upcoming article ”Percentage vs. Flat Rate”
The largest company may not always be the right one for you, however when you are starting with no information it is a calculated step to making an informed decision rather than simply throwing a dart at the phone book.
Set up appointments to interview at least three Realtors preferably from different companies with quality training.
If you do not feel comfortable with any of them, keep interviewing even different ones from the same company until you find the one for you.
The time you spend interviewing today will pay off tomorrow.
If you enjoyed this article look for the up coming “How to interview a Realtor” what to look for and questions to ask also “Percentage vs. Flat Rate” Which one may be right for you and how might it affect the sale of your property. You can have these and more automatically delivered to your inbox by signing up for our free updates located in the top right corner.
Gary is a person who takes great pride in his family and his community. He enjoys helping others and building new friendships. As a full time Professional Realtor he is dedicated to continuous education and client service.