Why Use a REALTOR®?
When you’re ready to think about buying or selling your property, you need to ask yourself the following questions:
The process of buying and selling a home can be a confusing, complex legal process. Finding the right real estate agent is the first of many important steps, and can be the difference in how quickly you sell or buy your home, and for how much.
What is a REALTOR®?
REALTORS® are licensed professionals who are members of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribe to the strict Code of Ethics. Their clients have the right to receive specific fiduciary duties of confidentiality, reasonable care and diligence, accountability, loyalty, disclosure, obedience, and accounting. REALTORS® employ the highest expertise in providing service, as well as pledge to provide fair and ethical treatment to both buyers and sellers. REALTORS® can assist you with buying, selling, leasing, optioning or investing in real estate, relocating or property management services.
Choosing a REALTOR®
To find the best REALTOR® in your community
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Ask
family, friends, co-workers and neighbors for referrals. Ask specific questions
about their home buying or selling experience. Ask what kind of service they
received and whether or not they would use this REALTOR®
again.
Surf the
Internet. You’ll find extensive information about REALTORS® and their
companies at www.realtor.org.
Attend open
houses to observe REALTORS® marketing a property in
action.
Look for
sold signs in your neighborhood indicating a successful REALTOR®.
Find a REALTOR® with a specialty
Professional designations and areas of specialization may serve as an indicator to choose a REALTOR® you would like to interview. You may also want to find a REALTOR® who has similar interests or participates in a cause you believe in. When choosing a REALTOR®, talk about a plan of action customized to fit your real estate needs. Don’t be afraid to ask the following questions:
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How long have
you been licensed and/or actively worked in the area?
How many home
sales have you closed in the last six months?
Do you work
full-time as a REALTOR®?
Have you
earned any special professional real estate designations?
Exactly what
do I get for my money by working with you?
Do you
participate with any community services?
In the end, you will have to trust your instincts about who will best represent your interests. Buyers and Sellers must make a lot of important decisions, and will rely on their REALTOR® to assist them in making the best ones. Buying or selling a home is one of the most important investments you will make, and your REALTOR® should be your most valuable resource throughout the process.
What a REALTOR® can do for you
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A REALTOR® can
help you determine the selling price of your home, or how much home you can
afford. Often a they can suggest ways to accrue the down payment and
explain alternative financing methods when buying.
A REALTOR® has
knowledge about the local market and can inform you about prices, conditions and
economic impact
A REALTOR® is
already familiar with current real estate values, taxes, utility costs,
municipal services and facilities, and may be aware of local zoning changes that
could affect your decision to buy or sell.
A REALTOR® can
research your housing needs in advance
A REALTOR® can
show you only those homes best suited to your needs, size, style, features,
location, accessibility to schools, transportation, shopping and other personal
preferences.
A REALTOR®
often can suggest simple, imaginative changes that make a home sell more
quickly, or to make it more suitable for you and improve its utility and value
when buying.
A REALTOR® is
sensitive to the major commitment you are about to make. Look for a real estate
professional to facilitate negotiation of a win-win agreement that will satisfy
both buyer and seller.
