Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

 

Granny

If you're relocating to Maryland, you probably want an agent who...

___  Gives you undivided attention
___  Understands and respects your needs
___  Knows the market
___  Works hard to find your dream home
___  Gives you breathing room
___  Is a real pro at the negotiating table
___  Has great connections
___  Will provide all services at no cost 

 

I would suggest your criteria for choosing an agent (and how to evaluate them) should be...

___  Real estate expertise - professional designations (GRI, CRS, CRB, e-Pro, SRES, ABR), and even the content of their blogs
___  Professional success - successful closings and testimonials
___  Local knowledge - local resident, familiar with neighborhoods, schools, recreation, shopping, commuting routes 
___  Community involvement, because this builds a valuable network of buyers and sellers
___  Industry leadership  - participation in professional organizations and serving on REALTOR committees
___  Integrity - In a word, reputation - for honesty and ethical standards of practice  
___  Technical capability - websites, email, cell phone, text messaging and blogging 
___  Proven systems - a business plan, marketing plan, checklists, professional partners


 

Experience is not an absolute, since there are hard-working knowledgeable real estate novices who are surrounded by managers and mentors with experience.  In most cases, however, experience in a previous buyers' market will give a seller or buyer a competitive edge.

If you're like most people, the bottom line really is this:   No matter how well qualified an agent may be, it won't matter unless you KNOW, LIKE, and TRUST them.  And yes, the criteria on these lists contribute to your making that call.  

When you're ready to move from "just browsing" to "seriously looking", let me know if you don't yet have an agent.  I will help you identify an agent in your area and your destination location, anywhere in the country - and I will do that "for free".

AND, there is NO direct cost to you for my services.  Ask me to explain.

Choosing a Crofton Agent Is Easier in '08

Copyright 2006-13. Margaret Woda. All rights reserved.

  DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice.

________________________________________

Margaret Woda, Crofton Realtor


Margaret WodaMargaret Woda, REALTOR & Associate Broker
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., 2191 Defense Hwy., Crofton, MD 21114
Direct:  (410) 451-6245 or click on EMAIL

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20 Comments on Would You Hire This Agent?

FEB
12
2008
373,580 Points 40 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
Gives you breathing room - good point, Margaret, and one too often forgotten by too many agents.
10:40pm • #1
Nice job. This represents you well.  Hopefully this will bring in some buyers for you as you sound like the type of agent buyers are looking for.
10:45pm • #2
Great post!  I love it!  The image is great too!  Well written, thanks for sharing.
10:55pm • #3
338,685 Points 49 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Margaret, LOVED the photo! I find that many agents selling out of area in MY area really don't know what they are doing and I fear their clients are not being well represented.

Colleen
11:11pm • #4
1 Featured Post

Margaret,

I think that is a former buyer of mine. Great post. Spell check knowledge.

Although I am finally getting my GRI after 11 years in the business,  I was never a big believer in them (designations).  My attitude has since changed and am in the process of attaining more, not so much for the public though.  More for me to be as knowledgeable as possible in the field.  I've seen and worked with a lot of excellent agents with designations and without and have also run into those with and without designations that should be selling shoes.
11:11pm • #5
738,077 Points 231 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Margaret.... can I get her number?  Sooo sexy...  ;o)   Seriously, this was an excellent little cheat sheet for the average consumer to review. Overall, a worthy post and excellent job on this...

jeff belonger
11:15pm • #6
823,374 Points 155 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Jeff, I've talked to a few consumers this week and they all seemed so nervous... like they were going to a new dentist or something.  It kinda reminded me that consumers sometimes don't know where to start.  The "agent" here is meant to llighten up the discussion!

Mike, thanks!  I thought I'd saved this to drafts, and didn't realize I'd published it yet.  Corrected, thanks!

Colleen - Yes, this was another one of those blogs inspired by a photo.

Tina - Thanks.  Funny, professional appearance isn't anywhere on either list!

Rian - Just some food for thought.  This is really directed to consumers, but it's a good checklist for agents, too.

Lisa - This first list (minus the "will work for free") was actually the results of a consumer survey published in Realtor Magazine a dozen or more years ago, and I've used it in one form or another for training and presentations ever since.
11:18pm • #7
738,077 Points 231 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Margaret.... kind of like this list...  Mortgage Process - Purchase CHECKLIST prior to purchasing a home - Part 1
If the average consumer would follow your list and the one that I mentioned, our lives would be a little easier. Why they would be nervous?  Only if they listened to the wrong people and the wrong advice. I had a client that was told by a lender to go get new credit. He bought a car, which dropped his price from $180,000 to $115,000. Bad advice was given without explaining it in detail.

jeff belonger
11:59pm • #8
FEB
13
2008
597,122 Points 106 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router
The experienced agent also has more interaction with the top agents in the area.  Very helpful when trying to sell listings.
3:36am • #9
558,778 Points 91 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp
Being comfortable with your agent is key...I try to give a very low pressure indication at first to make them feel comfortable. Once they feel they can trust you the rest is easy...by the way...she looks like a Hawaiian Tootsie:)
6:15am • #10
1,450,994 Points 46 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master
Great post. Very well thought out. I like the analogy . ( like going to the dentist)
6:34am • #11
823,374 Points 155 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Jeff - That's terrible!  It really DOES make a difference which mortgage professsional or agent a consumer chooses, to avoid mistakes like that.

Randy, so true!  and helpful for buyers, as well, because the agent may hear about coming listings not yet on the market.

Neal - I agree, definately.  I think this agent is partying too hard at his company's convention in Hawaii!

Gita, that truly is how they sounded.  I felt so bad for them!  I don't remember noticing that so much in the past.
6:52am • #12
304,064 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Hi Margaret,
Building a relationship of trust and mutual respect is the first step in my opinion.  
7:12am • #13
599,200 Points 79 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp
Margaret, Know, Like, and Trust is so key to just about any professional relationship, or personal relationship for that matter. 
8:09am • #14
878,577 Points 75 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
Margaret- Excellent list you have put together. All of those things are very important of course but many times it does come down to how someone feels about you. Personality matches are at the top of most peoples criteria for picking an agent.
8:40am • #15
Margaret~What a great list to give the consumer so much to think about. You will forever amaze me with the astounding knowledge that you share. We are cultivating relationships and to nurture them we must feed them daily. 
9:39am • #16
1,550,700 Points 277 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Margaret-  I agree with you on most points except for this one:

___  Industry leadership  - participation in professional organizations and serving on REALTOR committees

I never have, never will. That does not have anything to do with whether  I am a good agent. I don't know any top agents in our area that serve on committees. Here, it is mostly older agents with too much time on their hands. I am too busy selling and spending time with my family!  
9:47am • #17
823,374 Points 155 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Cynthia, I truly do think that's the bottom line.  Know, like, trust.

Brian, Nothing else is important, sometimes.  That's why an experienced real estate pro will sometimes lose out to someone who's brand new - the consumer "clicks" with them.

Bill - You're right - "Personality" is another way of saying that.

Julie - I'm not sure this answers any questions for them... in the end, they'll probably go with the person they "like" the best.

Katerina - I don't mean to suggest Industry Leadership is a "must have", but I've never met an industry leader who wasn't a GREAT agent. In the end, however, it's still the know, like, trust factors!
9:58am • #18
321,805 Points 13 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Sure I'd use this agent - it's my mother-in-law!

Nothing worse than hearing that a seller/buyer is using a relative "just because".  The sale of a home is just too important to trust willy-nilly.

 
2:01pm • #19
FEB
15
2008
1,327,142 Points 188 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
Margaret, now I know where that blue haired Realtor from yesteryear went. She's in your blog. Great stuff. I'm very on board with the trust factor.
8:57pm • #20


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Margaret Woda, Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation Services

Margaret Woda

Crofton, MD

More about me…

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., Crofton, MD 21114

Address: 2191 Defense Hwy., #120, Crofton, Bowie, and Davidsonville, MD, 21114

Office Phone: (410) 721-1500

Cell Phone: (301) 346-2923

Email Me

Real Estate and community information for home buyers and sellers, military transferees, and rookie agents in the greater Crofton area, including Bowie, Davidsonville, Fort Meade, Gambrills, Odenton, and the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.

EHO



Margaret Woda




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