Sunday, December 21, 2008

Questions to Ask When Choosing a REALTOR®


Hello everyone! Here some great questions you should ask your Realtor! I have already answered the questions for you!


Make sure you choose a REALTOR® who will provide top-notch service and meet your unique needs.


1. How long have you been in residential real estate sales? Is it your full-time job? While experience is no guarantee of skill, real estate — like many other professions — is mostly learned on the job. JON: Real estate is my passion and my full time job.


2. What designations do you hold? Designations such as GRI and CRS® — which require that agents take additional, specialized real estate training — are held by only about one-quarter of real estate practitioners. JON: I hold the CNS designation. CNS stands for Certified Negotiation Specialist. I take continuing education courses through the year. I'm also a member of the Million Dollar Club and last year in 2007 I was Top 10 Agent-Units Sold.


3. How many homes did you and your real estate brokerage sell last year? By asking this question, you’ll get a good idea of how much experience the practitioner has. JON: Last year I sold 27 homes and Coldwell Banker is consistently #1 brokerage nationwide.


4. How many days did it take you to sell the average home? How did that compare to the overall market? The REALTOR® you interview should have these facts on hand, and be able to present market statistics from the local MLS to provide a comparison. JON: Average time frame to sell average home was anywhere from 60-120 days. The Atlanta real estate market can be challenging at times due to a great deal of inventory. However, currently we are seeing a decline in inventory.


5. How close to the initial asking prices of the homes you sold were the final sale prices? This is one indication of how skilled the REALTOR® is at pricing homes and marketing to suitable buyers. Of course, other factors also may be at play, including an exceptionally hot or cool real estate market. JON: Very close. With my designation, CNS (Certified Negotiation Specialist), I am able to use my negotiation skills to get the best for whomever I'm representing.


6. What types of specific marketing systems and approaches will you use to sell my home? You don’t want someone who’s going to put a For Sale sign in the yard and hope for the best. Look for someone who has aggressive and innovative approaches, and knows how to market your property competitively on the Internet. Buyers today want information fast, so it’s important that your REALTOR® is responsive. JON: I have very extensive marketing plan that I use that sets me apart from my competitors. Depending on the home and location itself, I will customize a marketing plan that fits the buyers and/or seller.


7. Will you represent me exclusively, or will you represent both the buyer and the seller in the transaction? While it’s usually legal to represent both parties in a transaction, it’s important to understand where the practitioner’s obligations lie. Your REALTOR® should explain his or her agency relationship to you and describe the rights of each party. JON: I do represent each and every one of my clients exclusively. Very rarely will I come upon having to represent both the buyer and the seller.


8. Can you recommend service providers who can help me obtain a mortgage, make home repairs, and help with other things I need done? Because REALTORS® are immersed in the industry, they’re wonderful resources as you seek lenders, home improvement companies, and other home service providers. Practitioners should generally recommend more than one provider and let you know if they have any special relationship with or receive compensation from any of the providers. JON: Of course! I have an extensive list of approved vendors that I like to use personally. I will walk you through step by step with any of your concerns or questions.


9. What type of support and supervision does your brokerage office provide to you? Having resources such as in-house support staff, access to a real estate attorney, and assistance with technology can help an agent sell your home. JON: Coldwell Banker is the top brokerage within the nation. My brokerage office provides me with a ton of support, anywhere from legal questions to marketing.


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 agent and determine how closely the agent’s goals and business models. JON: Being able to purchase a home is an American Dream! I love being able to help people find that perfect home and experience the emotions that come along with it! I also get great satisfaction to help sellers sell their current home to relocate to another home of their dreams. Real estate is my passion and I feel it shows through with my clients.

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