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What does a Realtor do?

By
Real Estate Agent with Virtual Homes, Real Estate

So, what does a realtor do?

"Well you just made a quick [INSERT COMMISSION HERE AS CALCULATED BY CLIENT]"

We've all had clients say this to us, in one version or another when submitting an offer.  Quite often, we Realtors start rattling off a list of all the unofficial things that we do: home inspector, legal advisor, counselor, divorce attorney, baby sitter, banker, cleaning lady, family therapist, dog walker, appraiser, inspector, contractor, secretary, tour guide, taxi cab, handy man.... and thats just this week!

 

Juggling

 

We can all make a list of the many things we do for our clients that are not in our job description... but they are just that: NOT IN OUR JOB DESCRIPTION.  So why do we use this list to justify our commissions like we are professional go-fers?  These jobs do not justify the commissions we earn -the items that fall within our job description do.  My point is that aside from the countless tasks Realtors perform as favors to our clients, we provide a valuable professional service and deserve to be compensated accordingly.

When I list a home, I provide the following services: aiding my clients in determining the true value of their home using market data and professional experience, suggesting improvements or changes to increase the home's marketability, developing and implementing a marketing plan for the home, using my professional contacts to network the home throughout the local real estate industry and bring quality buyers to the home owner, recommend professionals (i.e. attorney's and contractors) and using my professional negotiating skills to bring you top dollar for your home. 

When I work as a buyer's agent, I use my vast local knowledge to help clients find a town/neighborhood that fits their lifestyle, assist my clients in finding their deam home, assist my clients in determining the right price to offer on a property based on actual market data, use my professional negotiating skills to get your home for the lowest price possible within market value, explain the home buying process and answer questions so my clients are prepared and informed when making the largest purchase they will likely make in their lives, recommend a quality home inspector who can save you thousands in home repairs in the long run, recommend an attorney to represent you throughout the closing process and recommend loan officers to assist you in obtaining financing.

These are valuable services, and if you ask any of my past clients, they will tell you I am well worth my commission (and I probably saved them more than what I was paid through negotiating price, repairs, upgrades and my recommendations of professionals to assist in the transaction).  So what does a realtor do?  I hope this helped to answer.  And yes, I'll come over and take your dog for a walk when we have a showing scheduled. 

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About the author: This blog is provided by Lori Liveston, a Realtor with Virtual Homes Real Estate. Lori can be reached via email at lori.liveston@virtualhomes.com or by phone at 781-799-9267. Follow Lori on Twitter @loriliveston

If you are thinking of buying or selling your home, contact me today!  I would love to put my enthusiasm, marketing expertise and dedication to results to work for you.

For a FREE no obligation home search tool sign up at my home search site.

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I service the following towns in Metrowest MA: Waltham, Lexington, Watertown, Billerica, Burlington, Woburn, Newton, Needham, Dedham, Framingham, Ashland, Natick, Hopkinton, Upton, Arlington, Weston, Wayland, Belmont, Concord, Lincoln, Cambridge, Bedford and Winchester.

 

 

Comments (5)

Stacey Smith
Keller Williams Realty - Aliso Viejo, CA
Your Orange County Beach Cities Realtor

Clients don't understand what we have to go through to get them from finding a house all the way to the close of escrow, last week I told my boyfriend I don't feel like a realtor today I feel like a dang firefighter!

May 24, 2010 04:54 PM
Iryna Sysenko
Realty One Group - Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas and Henderson Real Estate

Excellent points made Lori!                                                                                         

So true :)

May 24, 2010 04:54 PM
Lorraine Sayer
Monument, Black Forest, Falcon, Fountain homes - Colorado Springs, CO
Realtor ABR,CDPE,GRI - Colorado Springs,CO RE/MAX

Lori, great post. Why is it we always feel we have to defend ourselves when asked about our fees? You are absolutely correct that we are professionals and should be compensated as such.

May 24, 2010 05:04 PM
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Lori,

Thank you for sharing an informative and helpful blog.

May 24, 2010 05:38 PM
Lori Liveston
Virtual Homes, Real Estate - Waltham, MA

Stacey - I hear ya!  Those urgent phone calls keep life interesting :)

Iryna - Thanks for reading.

Lorraine - I think we all are guilty of this listing of non-job duties we perform when really all we need to do is explain to folks exactly what we do.  Our professional services are well worth it without all the small favors we do along the way.

John - Thanks for stopping by.

May 24, 2010 05:53 PM