Picking a Realtor

By Bob Schwartz, CRS, GRI ©2005 www.brokerforyou.com All rights reserved.


If you are aware of your situation, have a good concept of what you want in a home, and understand what you need, you don't want to be the only one who knows. Picking the right realtor will help you to better your odds of getting exactly what you want and finding the best deals that are in the market. If you aren't sure what to look for, then you can follow some basic guidelines to find the best home for your needs.

One of the simplest ways to be sure that you are getting involved with the right realtor is to do your research. In general, realtors will all have a reputation about how good their services are and what they were able to do for others. By looking into web-based sources or finding info from other people, you can begin to look for the right person and eliminate some of the bad seed realtors who aren't looking out for your best interests.

You don't just have to see realtors as others do, however. You can also find out how they have their services arranged. The most critical part of this is determining the commission that they will demand. This will affect how much you end up paying for your home. You will also want to look at credentials and how long they have worked in the area. The more that they know, the more they will be able to help you.

If you have never employed a realtor before, you will want to understand the standard procedures for how they are supposed to approach you with business. For instance, you shouldn't have to sign a contract at the commencement of the deal. You also shouldn't have to put any money down until you have found a home and signed a contract with the lender. Moreover, make sure that the realtor is going to consider what you want and need, and doesn't try to take advantage of what you don't know. You will usually be able to tell where a realtor stands with your business by how they reply to your questions and needs with the first phone call. Every realtor has their own individual tactic to showing homes. If you aren't comfortable with how they are proceeding, it is best to not use them.

Whether the home is your first of fiftieth, picking the right realtor to help is a main factor to walking into what you want. It is with a realtor that you will have the easiest time with making negotiations, speaking with the others involved and finding exactly what you want. Always make sure that your realtor knows that your home is where the heart is.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bob Schwartz, is a Certified Residential Specialist, CA licensed real estate broker with www.Brokerforyou.com. Bob has over 27 years of residential real estate experience, authored a number of published articles and served as an expert witness for San Diego lawyers. You can contact Bob via e-mail at bob@brokerforyou.com or visit his highly popular San Diego real estate website at: http://www.brokerforyou.com
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