More tips on how to avoid having this guy represent you in your next real estate transaction.
"What? Are you from not around here?
Forget about it!"
This post is a continuation of "How to find the best Realtor: Questions to use when interviewing a real estate agent." If you haven't read that one, just click on the link above and it will set the tone for the responses below, if the cheesy image above doesn't do that already!
Q3. What is your best Marketing Plan or Strategy for My Needs?
A3. Insert generic sales pitch here!
Your listing agent will probably say that his/her services include having your listing on MLS and on all of the popular real estate websites. They'll do open houses, put up a sign post, do a brokers' tour, etc. That's terrific! You want all of that. However, it's almost impossible to list a property and NOT have all of those things happen automatically. Those things mean that your house is on the market. Better questions are: In a seller's market, how are you going to handle a multiple offer situation? How will I know which offer is best for my unique circumstance? What is going to differentiate my listing from other listings that we're competing against? What is plan B if plan A doesn't work?
Your buyer's agent needs to provide responses to questions such as: Other than just looking on MLS like everyone else, how will you search for my home? Why is a buyer with multiple offers going to choose my offer or all of the others? Are we going to look at bank owned properties and short sales? Should I go looking on my own? Should I look at properties from local builders?, etc. Remember to ask "Why?" as often as is appropriate! Why your agent selects one activity or strategy over another is as important as the strategy itself. Also, listen and watch carefully. The responses to these questions ought to be immediate and comfortable. If your agent knows the answer AND knows why, then he or she ought to be quite comfortable explaining their responses to you.
Q4. Do you have references, testimonials, and/or reviews?
A4. This answer needs to be a yes, even if your agent didn't bring any printed out. They ought to be able to quickly provide this information. Ask if you can call a reference.
Q5. What skills and traits differentiate you from other agents?
A5. "I've been doing this a long time" doesn't necessarily mean "I've been effective and efficient for a long time"! How many deals a year do you close? How many with buyers and how many with sellers? Do you have a good relationship with lenders and title companies? etc. All of these are important
Q6. May I have a copy of the documents and forms I'll be signing in advance?
A6. This needs to be a resounding yes! California Association of Realtors makes all of these forms available to agents in multiple formats. You ought to be able to have them e-mailed to you, or handed to you in hard-copy.
Q7. What, if anything, haven't I asked you that I really ought to know?
A3. Your agent should not reply with, "Well, that's pretty much it!" That answer means that you know the process as well as the agent. The odds of a buyer or seller bringing exactly the right questions to a listing or buying presentation are very, very slim. Your Realtor should provide additional points of view, should set explicit expectations, and ultimately needs to ask you if there's anything he or she didn't answer for you.
I'll leave you with this "Taste of Wisdom" from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer:
" The way people treat you is their Karma. The way you respond is yours"
Until next time, and thank you in advance for remembering me when the topic of real estate arises.
Email me at andy.blasquez@gmail.com
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Click here to reach Macky Hensel.
Please Follow me on Twitter and Re-Tweet these blogs.
Please Add me as a friend on Facebook
Finally, please comment or ask questions. Other readers may be thinking the same thing. I love the feedback, critical or otherwise.
Thank you always for your support.
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ReplyDeleteWe have to walk in the right path for our Real Estate Investments Australia. Keep on making the best strategy for our business to ensure its success. We have to keep up and make sure that we will secure the stability of our business for the future.
ReplyDeletehttp://property-investment-mackay.blogspot.com/2013/06/4-steps-to-making-money-with-real.html
I completely agree with the idea of personal Realtor rather than searching advice online. You find almost the same advice online. Having personal Realtor increases chances of improvement in ideas and deeper knowledge of the home. Tips given for choosing Realtor surely help you. So do consider them.
ReplyDeleteTips for Selling your House
We must be ready for our future in Property Investment Portfolio. By being a best example for our agents, we can teach them the best way to succeed for the benefit of our future and also theirs. Our style as the owner of our business will help our agents as long as we ensure that our strategy is working properly.
ReplyDeletehttp://investments-in-real-estate-australia.blogspot.com/2013/08/property-invesments.html