Your decision has been made and you are going to take the "plunge" looking to Buy or Sell a Home, so where do you start in finding a great Realtor?
My advice to you will always be to first seek a referral from a friend, family member or business contact who is a satisfied client of a Realtor. This is always an excellent place to start for already you have the comfort of a sound connection along with a strong recommendation from someone you know and trust. This is often all you will need to find just the Realtor you are looking for and there is no greater compliment to a Realtor than having their services referred by someone whom they have worked with or helped in some way.
If you do not know of someone who can give you a strong referral then go right to the internet for some help. This is a valuable resource and is where over 85% of people will go as they begin their search for real estate information, all the information is right there at your fingertips and at your leisure! Simply Google a Realtor(s) name or Real Estate Offices in your area, check out sites like Activerain and Localism to see what you may find. This is an easy way of getting to learn about (and better yet) to know a Realtor even before you meet them!
When you are ready, set up an appointment with the Realtor of your choosing and get your questions answered. Learn about their availability and what they can do for you, how do they intend to market your home to make it stand out among all the others? Take the time to listen to the agent and carefully go over the information they are providing, now is the time to ask your questions, do you like their answers, is the agent hearing you? Look for an agent who is able to direct you in stagging and preparing your home for sale, this will definitely give your home a competitive edge and most often add value.
Keep in mind one of the largest mistakes consumers will make in choosing their Realtor is choosing one that will list their home for the highest price! This decision could very likely place you in the unfortunate position of watching your home "languish on the market" for it will be out of range of what the current market value is. The market is what will ultimately determine what your home will sell for….not the value of what you believe it has. This is a very challenging time we now find ourselves in and you will need to use every advantage in the strategic marketing and pricing of your home to get it SOLD! Making the mistake of over pricing your home can prove to be a costly error both financially and emotionally.
Always trust your instincts, if you are not comfortable with a Realtor keep on looking!!
There are many wonderful Realtors out there who will go above and beyond to represent you and your best interests. Don't hesitate to take advantage of their professionalism and experience to guide you through this ever changing real estate process.
All the Best and good luck to you!
-Therese is Selling and Marketing properties in the Greater Grand Rapids Area while specializing in the Jension, Grandville and Hudsonville
Please contact Therese directly at 616-780-0786. In this challenging market every advantage is Important!
Copyright 2008 - Therese VanderMeer -Realtor - Audu Real Estate - All Rights Reserved.
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