Find a REALTOR®

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The most important decision you can make in selling your home is to find the right REALTOR® for you. Choosing someone to help you sell your home should be conducted like any other business decision.  You are hiring someone to do a job. This job has a great deal at stake – your home may be the greatest investment you have – make sure you hire the best person for the job.

Keep in mind that this position has two very distinct parts to it.  One is as a marketing specialist.  How is this agent positioned to maximize exposure for your property?  What marketing strategy will he/she employ?  The other part of the Listing Agent’s job is to be your advocate.  As I’ve stressed throughout this site, the job doesn’t end when the Buyer finds a house and submits an offer or when the Seller gets a Buyer and the offer is received. Everything up to that is really the more mechanical, straight-forward part where expectations are fairly standard.  It’s the part that comes after the offer has been received that usually requires the most assistance. How well does this agent know his contracts?  How are her negotiation skills?  Is he able to explain things clearly and concisely to you?  Do you trust this agent’s judgment and ability to advise you wisely?

Choosing your best friend’s hair-dresser’s brother may seem like a nice thing to do, but only hire him if he is truly qualified and the best person for the job. Interview him just as you would anyone else.

Like any company in a hiring position, interview several candidates for the job of marketing your home. Know up front what characteristics are the most important to you. Each real estate agent has his/her own personal style, areas of expertise, and levels of experience. You will best be served by someone with whom you are most comfortable. Decide what type of agent you want.

For some, working with the Alpha Agent in the market is an absolute a must. They want to work with someone with a recognized track record, whom they perceive as being the the most successful.They believe that the busy agent attracts a lot of buyers, thus offering greater exposure. For others, however, it may not be as appealing. They fear that these top agents are too busy to provide the personalized attention they would like and that their property will get lost among the agent’s vast inventory. They want to work with the Agent they hired, not one of their many assistants. Some people prefer an older, more experienced agent, someone whose name is recognized in the community, whom they feel have been through the trenches and know a great deal. While others prefer younger, newer agents, whom they feel are more energetic and ‘hungry’ for their business and are more up-to-date on the latest trends in technology.

My very first listing was obtained through the notion that I was new and therefore untainted by the ‘old boys network’ of real estate agents in this market with whom my Sellers were in conflict. Hey, whatever floats your boat…

Ultimately, it may not even be about experience or volume – it’s about personality. Work with someone with whom you are comfortable, someone whose personality meshes with yours, someone whom you trust. Each argument has it’s merits. As I mentioned, it’s all up to you and how you feel about the person you are hiring to work for you.

Once you’ve decided on a REALTOR®, go ahead and have them draw up the Listing Agreement (Coming up next!)

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Some things to consider beyond the usual… when considering your new agent:

1) Is the agent a full-time REALTOR®?  Full-time or part-time, you will most likely be paying the same commission upon sale. Also, imagine that a prospective buyer wants to see your house at 10:30am… but your agent is at his “real” job from 9-5 and can’t show your home. A full-time agent works on your behalf at any time of day and is available to effectively handle anything at anytime without being bound by other employment obligations.

2) How many hours of continuing education has the agent taken in the past 4 years?  Why? The Georgia Real Estate Commission requires all licensees to take at least 24 hours of continuing ed every 4 years of licensure – except those licensed prior to 1980 – they’re ‘grandfathered in’ - which is really scary when you consider how much has changed in the world of real estate, finance, marketing and everything else since 1980. Laws and regulations affecting the real estate industry are always changing. New issues and topics are always being raised. Any agent worth his salt should be taking as much continuing education courses as he can above and beyond the requirements just to learn and grow and serve you better. So if you find someone who is squeaking by on just the minimally required credits… what might that say about that agent in general? hmmmmm…..

3) What Designations does the agent have? Designations are earned through extensive continuing education courses requiring both time and money to complete… and often require a certain level of experience to obtain. These designations can show that an agent has taken the initiative to invest in their careers to get educated and specialize in specific areas of real estate and just as with continuing education, it says a lot of an agent’s motivation and drive to excel. It also should instill some confidence that this agent has the knowledge and experience to provide the services you need and deserve.

4) How will they communicate with you? Will they have to hand deliver contracts because you don’t have a fax machine? Are they capable of emailing you forms via email?  Can they scan documents?  Can they post photos and video on-line for you to view? These may sound trivial now, but think about it… once you’re entrenched in serious contract negotiations and you have to stay late at the office staring at the fax machine while waiting for your counter-offer, you’ll wish you had asked these questions.

5) What is their personal policy on Dual Agency?  What is all this about?  What if your agent is working with a Buyer who happens to be a client… and that client wants to buy your house.  Who does that agent represent?  You or the Buyer? Will he ask to be a dual agent? How will the agent handle this?  How your agent answers this should be crucial to your decision.  Read more about Dual Agency and you’ll see what I mean.

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As a visitor to my site, I would like to offer you my services to help you market your home, but I realized that I may not be the right agent for everyone. However, if you like the information I’ve provided here, appreciate my honesty and candor, and would like to work with me, please contact me and let’s talk!