It begins! You open your eyes and you realize that you recognize nothing. With a dilation of the pupil you rise to your feet. "What in the world am I doing," you ask. Disoriented you wonder, "Why is this so confusing?" "What is going on?"
Much like the amazing television show, LOST, this is an all too familiar feeling for most buyers and sellers of real estate. For most people, this is the biggest purchase and/or sale of their lives to date. It can be quite an un-nerving. The biggest question of all for most people is, "Who do I trust?"
Your first step is to find the person who knows what they are doing. Someone who can "Shephard" you through the process and get you through the good and bad times. How do you know who that is? He/She is equipped to do the job and can hold things together in stressful situations. This person is the obvious leader and knows how to take charge of a situation. In real estate, finding the right Realtor can make or break you. Some important questions to ask are: 1) How motivated and innovative is he/she? 2) Do they know how to lead? 3. Is he/she knowledgeable? 3) Do they have your best interest at heart? While the buyer/seller will always control the decision making the Realtor should always have control of the real estate process and lead you in the right direction. 
You are also going to need someone who feels at one with the real estate industry inside and out, and who is not afraid to research and discover new things in the industry. Someone who is not afraid to get their hands dirty to get the job done. This person should have a strong connection with this housing jungle and when all is said and done, they should give you the knowledge to un-locke your dreams of buying a home, and/or guide you the treacherous adventure of selling a home in this daunting market.
What you don't want is to get involved with your local "con-man." The con-man cares about nothing but himself and thus does not have your best interest in mind or at heart. I see this most often with limited services companies. These companies will charge you a small service fee but could care less if you get your house sold and will not be there whenever you need help. It is the attitude of "every man for himself"
For more information about buying and selling homes in the Metro Charleston SC area, please contact me, Michael Johnson. I'm a teacher at heart and enjoy talking to people about real estate. My initial consultation is free and if you are a buyer my services are at no cost to you.
Michael J. Johnson
843-817-5299
michaeljohnson@carolinaone.com
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