Selecting The Right Realtor

Selling your biggest investment – your home – is a big decision. You want to be sure that the agent you choose is the right one. It could mean the difference between saving a few dollars or losing thousands. All realtors are not alike. It’s important to find one that you feel comfortable with and one that is experienced with a proven track record.

Because real estate transactions are a complicated process and involve legal contracts, you need an expert that is knowledgeable on the rules and regulations to guide you through the process and help you avoid delays and costly mistakes.

Look for a Realtor

Realtors are members of the National Association of Realtors, a trade organization of nearly one million members all across the nation. They must abide by a stringent code of ethics that guarantees their clients receive the highest-level of service and integrity. They are experts in the buying and selling process and know the laws and regulations of the states in which they are licensed.

To help you find the right Realtor for you, ask them the following questions. If you’re satisfied with the answers and feel comfortable with this person, you’ve found the right person to help you sell your home.

1. How long have you been in residential real estate sales? Is it your full-time job?
2. Are you a Realtor?
3. How many homes did you and your company sell last year?
4. How many days did it take you to sell the average home? How did that compare to the overall market?
5. How close to the initial asking prices of the homes you sold were the final sale prices?
6. What types of specific marketing systems and approaches will you use to sell my home? (Look for someone who has aggressive, innovative approaches, not just someone who’s going to put a sign in the yard and hope for the best.)
7. Will you represent me exclusively, or will you represent both the buyer and the seller in the transaction?
8. Can you recommend service providers who can assist me with making repairs on my home, and other things I need completed?
9. What type of support and supervision does your brokerage office provide you?
10. What’s your business philosophy? (While there’s no right answer to this question, the response will help you assess what’s important to the real estate practitioner—fast sales, service, etc.—and determine how closely the practitioner’s goals and business emphasis mesh with your own.)
11. How will you keep me informed about the progress of my transaction? How frequently? Using which media?