With Over 46,000 Atlanta Real Estate Agents, How Do You Choose One??

Ok, there's actually 46,000 in the State of Georgia, but a good amount of them reside in the Atlanta and surrounding areas.

I recently heard a poll that rated real estate agents LESS TRUSTHWORTHY than used car salesmen. WOW!! I was shocked and also made fun of by my four brothers who all sell cars for a living.  Nevertheless, it's not a secret that there are a slew of bad agents out there.

I often have clients come to me after "their agent didn't work out" or "their agent didn't know what they were doing." Just because you have a real estate license doesn't make you a real estate agent, you have to EARN the title of real estate agent.

Although these numbers may have changed more or less, the last I heard there were over 46,000 licensed Atlanta real estate agents. Less than a year ago, that number dropped to less than 30,000 active licensed agents. Close to half of the supposed real estate agents out there turned to office jobs or other sources of income because they couldn't survive the market trends. Many say the transition was because it just was "too hard to make it in a down market" and that's where I stand by my theme that you must EARN the title of real estate agent, not just "play agent."

While I can't pick the right agent that is going to work for you (keep in mind different personalities, behaviors and ethics will all fall into finding the right agent for you), I can help you decide how to chose one.....

If You're Looking to Sell, You Should Know the Following About Your Agent:

• What is their background in marketing? How do they sell their homes? Are they using print, web, postcards?? More importantly are they up-to-date on their technology tactics or using the "old school" strategies trying to sell in "new school times?"
• What is the average timeframe it takes for them to sell a properly priced home? If it's over 6 months, consider why? Even in a down market, I am selling my properly priced homes in less than 3 months and some within the same week I market them.
• What are their statistics? Year-to-date sales, etc.? If they don't have solid numbers to provide, consider the source.
• Do they handle their OWN listings or do they have assistants working for them? Having a team is great, but if your agent's assistant knows more about your home then them, you don't have someone working for YOUR best interest.
• Are they willing to cut their commission for you?? This one is tricky...keep in mind that if an agent won't stand up for their own worth, how do expect them to represent you at the negotiating table?
• Will they provide references?
• Finally, I will ask you to do one more thing....Call the agents you've interviewed after 6 pm during the week and throughout the weekends from a number they will not recognize. If they DO NOT pick up, RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN.
  
  With the majority of buyers looking at nights and on the weekends due to work, you need an agent that is there to SELL THEM THE HOME, not an answering machine that by the time they check the message, the buyer has moved on to the other home whose agent DID pick up the phone. I cannot stress this point enough. Listing agents do exact that, they LIST properties and then wait for another agent to sell the property for them. A MARKETING AGENT does exactly that--markets your home to the masses and gets it SOLD!

If You're Looking to Buy, You Should Know the Following About Your Agent:

• How many clients are they currently working with?? A buyers' agent needs to devote a significant amount of time to you in helping with one of the most important decisions you can make. If they are overwhelmed or unorganized, move on.
• Did they ask you the following questions:
  • Are you paying cash or pre approved and can you please send me the letter/proof?
  • What is your timeframe?
  • Are you currently working with another agent?
  • Will you sign a buyer's brokerage?

If they didn't RUN, RUN, RUN!!! This means they are running around with any Tom, Dick and Harry and have no value for their own time. You need an agent that values YOUR time and knows the business inside and out and good agents aren't afraid to ask valuable questions to facilitate the process.

• What is your experience with foreclosures and short sales?? If they don't have solid numbers and "speak the language", MOVE ON seeing as that's a majority of the sales being initiated right now.
• Will they provide references?

Finally, one very important tip, GOOGLE YOUR AGENT. If they don't know how to brand themselves, how can they brand your home or help you find your next one.....

Yes, there are over 46,000 licensed agents in Georgia, BUT how many of them have actually EARNED THE TITLE???