Choosing your REALTOR is not something you just do.  It's not like running down to the corner market to pick up a gallon of milk.  In the Fayetteville/Ft. Bragg area we're a dime a dozen no doubt.  But we're not all the same. 

Take the time to talk to a REALTOR.  If you don't get a sense that this is someone you can work with move on before you sign anything.  Communication is the key to this relationship.  It works both ways.  The client and the agent need to be able to understand each other clearly.

When you find a REALTOR that you can call your own, be open and honest.  If you look at a house and it isn't the one for you let your REALTOR know but let him/her know why.  Knowing why it's not the right house will give your REALTOR more information to go on for the next search.  You might have given him/her a list of wants and needs for the new home but when you walk through houses it's the little things that can help add new homes or eliminate homes from the list.   Be upfront about your timeframe and budget.  GET PREAPPROVED!  This is for the both of us.  It lets us both know what ball park we should be playing in.  I don't care what league we're playing in, as long as we're playing the game.

When listing your home for sale, your REALTOR will tell you what your home should be listed for.  Your REALTOR is educated in this area and the listing price has nothing to do with how much money you need to get out of your home unfortunately.  Your REALTOR will also give you tips on what to do to make your home "show" better.  People will be coming into your home and you only get one chance to make a good first impression!  Don't take the tips personally.  We do this to all our clients.  It has nothing to do with cleanliness or living habits, usually.  It just has to do with showing the house and how potential buyers view things.  We both want your home to sell at the best price and fast so please respect your REALTORS advice.  Be accomodating to showing times.  If we can't show the home, we can't sell it.

Your REALTOR is your new friend.  Don't worry about telling them embarassing life things.  They do have other clients and they have heard it all.  (And they will likely forget tomorrow what ever it is that sounds so embarassing to you today.) 

A good REALTOR will keep in touch with you after the purchase of your new home.  We want you to be happy.  This is our job. 

Make sure your real estate agent is a REALTOR.  This person abides by a strict code of ethics and is a member of The National Association of REALTORS, their local and state board of REALTORS.  We are professionals and we love what we do!!