How do you pick the best real estate agent
in Georgia?
We all know if you want to know who the good doctors are, ask the nurses. And if you want to know who the good real estate agents are, ask those that deal with them every day!!
Here are some tips on what to look for when you are interviewing agents and what to stay away from.
First, look for someone who has at least three years of experience in your market and averages at least 12 transactions a year.
Try to avoid high profile agents, like the ones you see advertised on large billboards. Because you'll likely spend a lot of time talking to their assistants.
Ask for a reference list of past clients and pick someone with good pricing skills. To find out if they have good pricing skills, ask for a record of all the homes the agent has listed and sold during the past year, with both the listing price and the final sales price for each. Compare and see how close the prices were.
Furthermore, keep in mind that commissions are negotiable, but don't opt for a less experienced associate whose fee may be lower, otherwise you may not get top dollar for your home.
Now is not the time to try to save $1,000-2,000 in commissions at the expense of losing $5,000 or more because you didn't have a good marketer or negotiator working for you.
Many of these rules also apply when choosing a buying agent also.
One other thing, NEVER call the listing agent yourself when you are inquiring about buying a home. The only exception to this is if the listing agent is already your buyer's agent.
In other words, if the agent you have chosen to help you buy a home has a listing for sale, I think it is fine to consider those homes. But never call a listing agent that isn't already working for you.
Some people think they will save money by doing that. They think that because the agent doesn't have to share their commission with anyone else that they will get a better deal. This is a huge mistake!
Make sure that the agent you have chosen and trusted is working for you, NOT the seller.
Keep in mind that 90% of all realtors only close 2 or 3 transactions per year. You wouldn't want your doctor to only see 2 or 3 patients per year, or your pilot to only fly 2 or 3 times a year.
Likewise you don't want a realtor that only goes to the closing table 2 or 3 times per year. If you are even considering buying or selling a home, give me a call and I'll hook you up with a real pro! Let's prevent you from being one of the horror stories and keep you away from 90% of the "wanna bees".
It is crucial that you don't have someone "learning" on one of your biggest financial negotiations. You can't afford to mess up on something this important by using your neighbor's uncle or brother who is "such a nice person".
Trust me; let the experience I have in working with many agents, work for you. You will benefit by having a real expert guide you.
Thanks for letting me help.
The information above was provided to me by a great colleague, Justin Herring with Southeast mortgage and can be reached at justin.herring@southeastmortgage.us. Pictures provided by Lori with BonicelliDesign.com
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