Selecting the Right Professional

Choosing the right real estate agent could mean the difference between saving a few dollars or losing thousands. All realtors are not alike. It’s important to find one that you feel comfortable with and one that is experienced with a proven track record.

To help you find the right real estate agent for you, ask them the following questions. If you’re satisfied with the answers and feel comfortable with this person, you’ve found the right person to help you in your real estate transaction.

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 basically OJT (On-the-Job Training).
   
   
2. How many condos did you and your brokerage sell last year?

3. How many days did it take you to sell the average condo? How did that compare to the overall market?

4. How close to the initial asking prices of the condos you sold were the final sale prices?

5. What types of specific marketing systems and approaches will you use to sell my home? (Look for someone who has aggressive, innovative approaches.)

6. Will you represent me exclusively, or will you represent both the buyer and the seller in the transaction?

7. Can you recommend service providers who can assist me in obtaining a mortgage, making repairs on my condo, and other things I need done?

8. What type of support and supervision does your brokerage office provide you?

9. 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 real estate practitioner—fast sales, service, etc.—and determine how closely the practitioner’s goals and business emphasis mesh with your own.)
   
   
10. How will you keep me informed about the progress of my transaction? How frequently? Using what media?

11. Could you please give me the names and phone numbers of your three most recent clients?