Ensuring that you have the right person working with you to find your dream home is key to handling all of the intricacies of real estate sales and contracts. The right person helping to find your dream home and sell your current home adds to the excitement of a new home without as much anxiety as can accompany moving. Start by doing some research on the realtors in the areas you are looking to purchase or sell a home. Taking the time to do this research saves you money, time, and headaches in the long run.
The tips below are modified from http://tinaabraham.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/eight-tips-for-choosing-a-realtor/ and are helpful in choosing a realtor to sell your home, as well as help you find the perfect new home for you and your family.
- Interview at least three realtors. This will give you some options to choose from. The easiest way to find realtors in your area is to look in three different ways; on the Internet, in the neighborhood, look for the for sale signs, ask friends and family. Personal referrals from those who have actually worked with a realtor will probably prove to be most helpful to you. Finding a realtor who is knowledgeable in the areas you are looking and selling often leads to greater success in the long run.
- During the interview with the realtor, ask several questions to understand the experience and working style of the realtor. Here is some information it's helpful to know at the end of your meetings:
- How many listings do they have for you to view, and where do they get their listings? If you are selling your home, what kind of advertising will they be doing for your home?
- What experience does the realtor have? Can you check references of some of the resent real estate transactions?
- Will your realtor be dedicated to you? How quickly will they return your calls, and how much time do they have to handle your real estate transaction.
- Who will be at the closing? Will it be the realtor you are talking to, or will they have someone in their place.
- Consider the personality of the realtor. Are they charming, have charisma, a positive outlook and a professional appearance? You will be spending a lot of time with this person, so it's important that you get along with him/her.
- After the interviews are complete, sit down and review all of the information. Take the time to think about all the people you interviewed and consider all of the facts. This is where your comfort and the experience and knowledge of the realtor will come into play.
- Look for the realtor that is a little more aggressive, but not so aggressive that they will miss the subtle requests from both the buyer and seller. Make sure the realtor will stand up for you in negotiations and truly represent what you want.
- Check for licenses, training and recognitions from the leading real estate departments in your area. These licenses provide some protection in the professionalism where the real estate realtor is concerned.
- Review the terms, conditions and fees that the realtor will be asking for in the contract they will ask you to sign. Find out what the going costs are for a realtor in your area. These fees may be negotiable.
- Watch to find out what the negotiation skills the realtor has. This will be of major importance when in both the sale of your home and purchase of your new home.
- Posted by Mary Catharine Grau, Director of Marketing, Estridge and HOMExperience
