QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN CHOOSING A REALTOR

There are hundreds of real estate licensees in our area. Choosing the right agent for your home can be confusing. It is especially difficult when you speak with several different agents; and they all see so convincing. There is a way to find an agent who will most likely succeed in getting your desired price and terms. The key is asking the right questions.

The following list provides you with questions to ask your prospective Realtor. The list will not only help you select the right Realtor, but also get you the very best from the one you choose.

1. Do you work as a full-time Realtor? Yes2. Are you a sale agent or a broker? Sales Agent3. How will potential buyers be able to get information about my house? (a)

from the internet—eg. Realtor.com, (b) from my personal web sites, (c) from the drop box in front of your home, (d) from calling me personally, (e) from calling the office and being transferred to me.

4. Do you have a written marketing plan that I can check to see that all the work has been done? Yes, I have a web site where I record what I have done and all the showings have responses from the realtors who showed the property.

5. Do you have a staff to see that no details are overlooked? Yes, RE/MAX Preferred Associates has a staff that handles all the listings with a check sheet for them to check off that everything has been completed. Once the home has an accepted offer I have a sheet that I complete with all the pertinent information on the buyer and the seller. That staff member then follows what I have completed and then works with the title company, attorney, etc. to coordinate the closing.

6. In what ways will you encourage other Realtors to sell my home? Every Realtor at RE/MAX Preferred will get a sheet with all the information on your home—therefore, if they have a client looking in that area they will have the information to pass on. Also, after your home is listed and goes into our Multiple Listing System, every realtor in this area with clients looking for a home like yours will be alerted by email of the new listing as well as the client.

7. Do you have any system to follow-up on other agents so that we get valuable feedback after every showing? Yes, as mentioned in #4 I have a web site that contacts the agent after the showing as to how they liked the property, the pricing, the condition, the possibility of another showing, and whether they might make an offer.

8. Are you on the internet exposing my property to millions of buyers instantly? Yes, there is the MLS by the Toledo Board of Realtors, Realtor.com, RE/MAX.com; Craigs List, Yahoo, RealBird, Active Rain, Localism, etc.

9. How many web sites do you have? Eight10. How many web sites will my property are listed on? Eight to ten.11. What is my property worth? What listing price do you recommend? How did

you arrive at this price? (a) Comparative Market Analysis, (b) RE/Max’s Neighborhood Report, (c) Viewing active listings in your area.

12. How can buyers find my home? (a) The sign in front of your home, (b) Directional, (c) the internet, (d) their real estate agent

13. Do you have a system that will educate me on the selling process? How does it work? I will give you the steps that an owner goes through once an accepted offer has been completed.

14. How do I know that you are not going to take the listing and then I will never see you again? In my 21 years as a real estate agent I have always worked to stay in contact with my clients. You can check with my broker who can state that he has never had a complaint about my commitment to work with buyers or sellers.

15. How do I know that your price estimate for my home isn’t set high so I will sign with you? Because of my market analysis, Neighborhood Report, and actually checking out homes for sale around your area.

Never choose a Realtor based on price alone!

Remember that a Realtor cannot magically raise the selling price of the house. Consider the buyer. The purchaser won’t willingly pay too much; it’s most likely that he or she will do research on the market and try to find the best product for the best price. The facts simply cannot be changed, no matter which Realtor you select.

In spite of the unchangeable factors, the Realtor you select must still be diligent and knowledgeable. If your property does not elicit attention within several weeks, the cause can most likely be attributed to one of these three factors: location, condition, and price. The location obviously cannot be changed. You should consider examining the condition of your property and reevaluating the marketing strategy. Ask your Realtor to offer an explanation of the competition and your pricing strategy.

Source: Virtual Realty; http://www.123-real-estate-riverside.com

Linda Sabo RE/MAX Preferred Assoc. 3306 Executive Pkwy. #101 Toledo, OH 43606 419-720-5600 x 320 419-344-6565 (cell)