The Questions (Most) Agents Pray You Never Ask!
by Michelle C. Carr-Crowe, ABR, ASP, ALHS, PME, RECS, SRES
As the market continues its fascinating twists turns, buyers and sellers need seasoned, experienced real estate professionals to help guide them safely to their destinations while avoiding numerous pitfalls, financial swamps and dangerous predators.
To help you choose the right real estate guide, first interview yourself, and ask the following:
What are the 7 most important things to me about buying or selling a home in today's dramatically changing market? (Goals, timing, pricing, specific problems, motivations, needs or wants, etc.).
What 7 things am I looking for in a real estate professional? (Proven sales track record, personality style, characteristics, etc.)
Once you know what's most important to you in the purchase or sale of a home, and what's important to you in a real estate professional, use the following questions every buyer and seller MUST Ask ANY Agent before committing themselves to any contract.
1) Do you personally own real estate? Especially in this market, you want someone who truly understands the financial obligations of a homeowner. It's even better if they own multiple properties - remember all of the investment salespeople who didn't own any stock but tried to sell you on their portfolios?
2) Do you personally own real estate in my general area? You want someone familiar with your area, neighborhoods, as well as laws and other factors.
3) How long have you been a homeowner? Hint: the longer the better.
4) How long have you been a licensed REALTOR? Again, the longer the better, especially in today´s markets-you want a professional who´s navigated through a variety of difficult markets and can give you solid, not inflammatory, advice.
5) Are you a full-time real estate professional? They should be fully committed to this job, and to you. Two part-time agents don't necessarily equal one professional full-time agent, and especially don't come close to being a local real estate expert.
6) Are you (not just your broker or company) a member of NAR, CAR, and local MLS & REALTOR organizations? This means they adhere to a specific code of ethics, as well as being in touch with new laws, education and training. It also means they at least have ~$2,000 to maintain those memberships. If they aren't members, ask why not.
7) What professional designations do you have? Ask which ones they have, what experience was required (some, like SRES, only involve taking a class and passing a test while others, like ABR and ALHS, require specific performance) and why they obtained them. Some examples include ABR - Accredited Buyer Representative, ASP - Accredited Staging Professional, ALHS-Accredited Luxury Home Specialist, GRI - Graduate, Realtor Institute, PME-Property Marketing Expert, RECS-Real Estate CyberSpace Specialist, SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist), etc.)
8) How many homes have you helped people buy and/or sell similar to mine in the past five years? Find out who, when and how many. One sale isn't as valuable as many sales. Five $40,000 sales in Detroit are not the same as ten $1,000,000 sales in Silicon Valley.
9) Do you specialize in my area? (They should have the statistics handy to prove it - #of sales, etc.)
10) Do you have a written home finding or marketing plan? (They may or may not have a printed one, however they should be able to show and/or outline the details for you.)
11) What is unique about your home finding or marketing efforts compared to others? It may be a team approach, specific software, Web sites, experience, negotiation skills, etc.
12) How many different selling or buying program options do you offer? This is often where conversations about commission come in. They may be general or specific (e.g. selling commissions range from 4 to 8%, depending on the program; we only represent full service at 7%; we only handle limited service 3% contracts, etc.)
13) Can you provide written references? This is really important. Ask for several names, with phone numbers and e-mail addresses, and be sure it's okay to contact these people. Then call them!
14) Do you offer a written guarantee? Fewer than five percent of agents offer this; however those agents are historically in the top five percent of agents nationwide in terms of volume, sales and production. If you like their answers to the above, then these last 2 questions are critically important to you: 15) Do YOU like and trust this person? (Hint, if it somehow feels too good to be true, pay attention and disengage. You can figure out why later on.)
16) Do you truly believe this person (not just company) is YOUR BEST OPTION to help YOU buy or sell a home in today's challenging market?
If the answer is no to either of these last two questions, or if it somehow feels too good to be true, pay attention to those feelings and disengage. You can figure out why later on.)
Once you do have a definite yes to both questions, you may have found the real estate professional to help you achieve your goals-and a guide you can trust to navigate you safely around the numerous obstacles and danger zones to your desired real estate destination.
© 2009 Michelle C. Carr-Crowe. All Universal Rights Reserved. No portion may be copied or re-distributed in any form without the express prior written consent of Michelle C. Carr-Crowe.
Michelle C. Carr-Crowe is a full-time real estate consultant and the leader of the Get RE$ult$ Team based in the Silicon Valley Bay Area. A licensee for over 20 years (DRE #00901962), Michelle and her team specialize in helping people buy, sell & invest in homes and properties in the San Jose Lynbrook, Cupertino, Saratoga & Palo Alto School Districts throughout Santa Clara County. She can be reached at 408.252.8900, info@lynbrookhighhomes.com or www.michellejudycarr.com.
Just Call ... (408)252.8900 Michelle C. Carr-Crowe and the Get RE$ult$ Team, Your Lynbrook, Cupertino & Saratoga Schools Experts & Your Family's Real Estate Consultants for Lifefor more information and showings of these and other short sale, bank-owned and traditional home opportunities.
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