Questions to Ask When Choosing a Realtor
1. Are you a full-time Realtor and what professional designations have you obtained?
Knowing whether or not your agent practices real estate full-time can help you determine potential scheduling conflicts and his or her commitment to your transaction. As with any profession, the number of years a person has been in the business does not necessarily reflect the level of service you can expect, but it is a good starting point for your discussion. The Cramer Team at Cherry Creek Properties has a “Rock Solid” service guarantee and engages in full-time real estate. Our transactions are backed up with a full-time commitment to the profession and designations like: GRI, SFR, e-Pro, & MCP.
2. Do you have a personal assistant, team, or staff to handle different parts of the purchase transaction?
It is not uncommon for agents who sell a lot of houses to hire people to work with them. You may want to know who is on the team or who will take part in your transaction before signing a contract. The Cramer Team at Cherry Creek Properties uses an in-house transaction coordinator, reputable lenders, experienced closers, and certified property inspectors. All to benefit you! We provide a list of recommended names to all of our clients.
3. Do you have a Website that will provide me with useful information?
Most homebuyers prefer to search online for homes because of the wealth of available information and the convenience of 24-hour a day access. The Cramer Team at Cherry Creek Properties provides you secure access to ALL properties, from ALL firms, and ALL agents. By searching our website you receive the most up-to-date housing information available in the Denver market.
4. Will you show me properties from other companies’ listings?
Some real estate companies do offer their buyers' agents a higher commission if they are able to sell "in-house" listings. In such circumstances, there can be added incentive to limit the range of homes you are shown. This may impact your home search and how much your buyer agent's fee will be. The Cramer Team at Cherry Creek Properties shows all homes in the market place no matter what company has the home listed.
5. Will you represent me or will you represent the seller?
The goal is to ascertain whom the real estate agent has legal fiduciary obligation to. In the past, agents always worked for sellers. Then the listing broker was responsible for paying the agent or sub-agent a suitable buyer fee to sell the home. And even though the buyer worked with their own agent, the agent still had a fiduciary duty to the sellers. Please know The Cramer Team of Cherry Creek Properties represents you exclusively!
6. How will you get paid?
In traditional home buying transactions the seller pays all agent earned commissions. Additionally, most mainline brokerages have administrative or transactions fees that are charged no matter what side of the transaction you are on. Be aware of the big picture and ask for an estimate of buyer or seller costs before signing a contract.
7. What distinguishes you from other real estate agents?
Each agent has unique methods of overcoming obstacles and negotiating deals. The most important point is to ensure your agent is an effective advocate for you. The only way to ensure that takes places is to engage in buyer or seller agency. The Cramer Team at Cherry Creek Properties only uses buyer or seller agency. Therefore we are able to distinguish our services by offer online tools exclusively to our clients like pricing trends from title companies and online access for a paperless transaction.
8. Will you give me names of past clients?
Interviewing an agent can be similar to interviewing someone to work in your office. Contacting references can be a reliable way for you to understand how the agent works and whether or not this style is compatible with your own. The Cramer Team at Cherry Creek Properties will provide you a list of three clients from the last 12-months of service.
9. If I am not satisfied with your performance, can I terminate our Buyer Agency Agreement?
In the heavily regulated world of real estate it can be difficult for an agent to offer a performance guarantee. If your agent does not have a guarantee, it does not mean they are not committed to high standards. The Cramer Team at Cherry Creek Properties understands the importance of a "Win-Win" business relationship. If the client does not benefit, then the agent does not benefit. Therefore, we instituted a “Rock Solid” service guarantee allowing termination of Buyer Agency Agreement with a 24-hour written notice.
10. How will you keep in contact with me during the buying process? The Cramer Team at Cherry Creek Properties uses email and phone as out primary communication methods. These methods are used before, during, and after the home buying transaction. Beyond this we will also give you access to password protected property information and online access to market trends from the title company.
Compare our top questions against Realtor Magazines top questions.
Comments(0)