choose_ realtor

The most important part of buying or selling a home is finding the right professional assistance. in almost all transactions, change of ownership for real estate requires the coordination of a complex variety of services including financing, appraising, pest control, structural and mechanical inspections, title work, insurance, repairs and more! Sound complicated? It is - that's why it is so important to have professional assistance. One professional - a competent, honest and hard-working Realtor can insure that all the many elements of your transaction come together to protect your interests and prevent your "American Dream" from becoming a nightmare. Over 90% of home buyers hire a Realtor to find their home and handle all the details to close the purchase. And for buyers moving from another city or state, the Realtor will also be an invaluable source for relocation information about the new city. Like buyers, over 90% of sellers hire a Realtor to market their home and handle the closing. As in other professions, some Realtors do the job better than others. Some are competent and some are not. Some are honest and some are not. Remember that you are "hiring" a professional to provide professional services so you need to understand what those professional services should include in order to determine if the individual Realtor has the ability to properly provide the service. Remember - you are hiring someone to work for you. If you had to pay this person by the hour wouldn't you choose them carefully and based on their competency and work ethic? Wouldn't you expect them to know all areas appropriate for your needs and be able to handle all aspects of the transaction? Don't settle for less than you have to. It may take some looking, but competent and honest real estate professionals are available and ready to work on your behalf.		Guidelines for selecting your Realtor:
		1. Choose a person with whom you can communicate easily and comfortably. You will be spending a lot of time with them and telling them many intimate details of your life and family. Work with someone you like. If you feel uneasy with them or that they are trying to "sell" you something, find someone else. This is about you and your family's well-being and you need some one who will be acting in your best interests, not just chasing a paycheck.
		2. Choose a Realtor who is a full-time, experienced professional. Just because someone works for a large company doesn't mean that person is full time, experienced or even properly trained and supervised. Frequently, larger companies have to recruit constantly and have a higher percentage of new or unproductive Associates. Do you want to be someone's "on-the-job training? On the other hand, some companies are so small and under-funded, you get an answering machine during normal business hours because they have no administrative personnel. A real estate transaction is a complicated process and you need to hire someone capable and willing to perform professionally.
		3. Ask friends, neighbors or co-workers if they know a real estate professional they would recommend. A "tried and true" Realtor can be your best bet. If you don't have such a recommendation from someone you know, ask the Realtor you are considering for references from their past customers. If they can't provide such references, keep looking.
		4. If your present home is listed with a Realtor, ask them to refer you to a professional in your new city. The two Realtors will be able to work together to coordinate both closings and help to make the entire process more orderly.
		5. Don't be afraid to "shop around". If you aren't satisfied with the first person you interview, keep looking until you find someone in whom you have confidence. Once you have found the right Realtor, stick with them! Since residential real estate professionals are almost always paid by commission at closing - a charge against the seller's proceeds - they have no way of earning a living if you abandon them after they have given you time and expertise. And they have no way of re-coping the loss - it would be like your doing your job for a month and finding an empty envelope without your paycheck.
		The bottom line is: trust your instincts and apply some good business sense. The wrong choice can cost you thousands of dollars and/or much emotional trauma. If you feel comfortable with the person and they have a good track record, you have probably found the right professional.