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Questions to Ask REALTORS® during your Selection Process?

There are many REALTORS® and real estate agents that want to represent you and your upcoming real estate transaction. But how do find the best one? How do you sift out those who claim to have experience but will turn out opposite to your expectations? How can you discover an agent that is efficient and effective in helping you secure your future home? You want someone of value to represent you. Below are several questions you can ask:

How long have you worked in this neighborhood where I am buying or selling a home?

Your real estate agent or REALTOR should be familiar with the neighborhood. He should know details regarding the school districts, any great features surrounding the location of your home, public transportation options, and neighborhood safety. If he has an intimate knowledge of the neighborhood, he can represent it well for you as a potential buyer.

Likewise, as a seller, an agent with neighborhood knowledge will be able to recommend an appropriate home price. In addition, the agent can connect you with other agents who have buyers interested in the dimensions and fit of your home.

How many years have you been in the business? How many properties have you sold in the last year, or in your career?

An agent's answer to the first question can be misleading since years do not necessarily make him a good candidate. Various agents advertise they are number one producers but in reality are full of 'fluff'. Finding out as much information about the real estate agent is necessary.

Number of home sold speaks volumes. You want an agent who sells a significant number of homes, which shows efficiency and who is in tuned with the market. It is an indication of how much knowledge the agent has of homes that are available for sale. He probably works hard in previewing homes and takes initiative into getting properties sold.

Describe to me one of your recent sell? And attached to this question, how would you past clients describe you?

In order to know how the real estate agent works and solves various issues, a story would characterize him well. You want to find out what tactics he uses, whether he is willing to try anything new or use cutting edge technology or various marketing concepts that can help the client. You want to determine how well he performs.

You want someone sharp and who takes the initiative to ask you questions, including your finances and debt information. An agent who takes the time to understand their clients show responsibility, character in the realm of being reliable and dependable. You want an agent who is straight with you instead of telling you what you want to hear. As you probe his history with other clients, you can find out whether he responds to calls in a timely manner and how much investment (time, effort, energy) he puts into his clients.

What kinds of reports and research material can you provide? How is the material beneficial to me as a buyer?

It is easy to find listings of homes for sale and neighborhood data online, but only an agent can give you comparative market analysis (CMA) with accurate sold home prices. In addition, the agent will have the most current and complete MLS (Multiple Listing Service) listing available. The listings that real estate agents possess will have more details on potential homes in your neighborhood.

Ask the real estate agent to go over the material with you in order for you to get a better understanding of your home buying situation.

List out the organizations you are a member of?

Your real estate should be ethically right and should treat you fairly. If a real estate agent is a REALTOR®, meaning they are a member of the National Association of REALTORS, they a held to a high standard of ethical code. As your agent if they are a REALTOR.

What was the last continuing education course you took? What did you learn?

Real estate agents need to be continually educating themselves. They need to know the market, the new regulations and new marketing practices. Their knowledge level should be current and up-to-date. Any agent can rattle off the name of the course they took a few years back. Having the agent describe what they learned in the classroom is the next step in finding out his knowledge level.