Choosing A Realtor

THE ART OF THE DEAL:
TIPS FROM ANDY RAFFLE ON

HOW TO CHOOSE A REALTOR

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS EVERY HOME SELLER SHOULD ASK BEFORE SELECTING A REALTOR

Selecting a Realtor to assist in the largest financial transaction in the lives of most people can be a challenging process. In a competitive  very active marketplace, it can be extremely confusing for a consumer to know where to begin.  This article shouuld bring some clarity and sense to the process so that you can feel confident that you have taken the right steps in arriving at your choice. C

Chemistry between the consumer and their Realtor matters but, Chemistry alone may yield you a perfect friend who is not the perfect agent. The history of the company, an agent's  success rate and the activity level of the local market will have a significant impact on the decision-making process.

Andy Raffle and Coldwell Banker Hearthside, Realtors recommend opening any dialogue with a potential real estate professional with the following questions and guidelines on what information to look for in the responses.

• What percent of your  listings, and those of your company's, have sold in the last 12 months? Ideally a home seller will want to work with a Realtor who has a high percentage of completed transactions within the local market. While this number will vary depending upon how active the local real estate market is, a higher percentage is preferable.  Since, in Pennsylvania, it is the Broker who represents the parties to a transaction, it is important to answer the same question of the company, as a whole.  

• What was the average amount of time it took to sell those listings? Marketing times between real estate companies will provide the consumer with an indication of how well that company and sales associate market homes.  It is the marketing of yor property that the listing agent will provide and their past success will be a good gauge of their future results.

• What was the average sales price? Look for a figure that is close to what you would like to receive for your home.  An agent that does not work in your price range on a regular basis is likely not having frequent interactions with the purchases and the agents that sell homes in that same price range.

• What was your company's list-price to sale-price ratio? Significant differences between original listing prices and ultimate sale prices can be an indication that the list prices quoted at the outset were unrealistic.  An agent that sells homes at or close to list price is a sign of thorough research and understanding of the market and, also, of a commitment to present a realistic picture of the value of your home - even if that might not be what you'd like to hear

• What will you do to market the property?  Selling homes today involves far more than entering a property into the MLS and running an ad in the paper.  What will the prospective agent do to market your home and reach the potential buyers that you need to view your property.

• What is your commitment to communication?  An agent that does not have a regularly scheduled routine and practice of communicating with clients is more likely to let communication fall through the cracks.  An agent that has a routine of communicating with their clients and can easily spell it out is far more likely to simply be able to slip new clients into their succesful routine.

Andy Raffle sells Bucks County Real Estate.  Check out my website for Yardley homes and information, search for properties, read my informative Real Estate Articles and read my Bucks County Real Estate Blog

Andy Raffle

www.askAndyRaffle.com

Coldwell Banker Hearthside, Realtors

70 West Afton Avenue

Yardley PA   19067

215.493.9080x130