How to choose a REALTOR®

                                                                                  

This year you've made that all important decision to buy your first home, or maybe sell an existing one. Now comes your second most important decision—who’s going to help you with your real estate needs? There are likely hundreds of Realtors in your area to choose from. Do I choose a large firm or a small one to help me? Do I ask a friend for a referral, or maybe you already have someone in mind.

It is important to note that everyone who has a real estate license is not necessarily a REALTOR®. REALTOR® is a registered trademark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

The first thing you want to do when choosing a real estate agent is to have some idea of the type of person you work with best. Since we are in the "people" business, it’s fair to say that not every client/agent relationship will be a good match. Good agents are willing to go above and beyond in order to help you reach your goals, however the way any two agents get you there may be very different! Do you require that person to have a more "hands on" or "hands off" approach? Do you hate texting and require return phone calls, or maybe you prefer a quick text response? A good working relationship with your agent will make you more confident in the process, and more satisfied with the result. 

Talk to friends who recently purchased or sold a home about their experience with a particular Agent. You may want to ask how the transaction went, their experience may be enlightening. Ask if they found their agent to be knowledgeable enough about the kind of home and neighborhood they were looking for. Was the agent supportive when giving recommendations on ways to get the house ready to put on the market? If it was a particularly difficult transaction, how well did he or she handle the pressure, and also help you to relieve some of the stress surrounding the transaction. 

The best thing you can do before deciding who is going to represent you, is to interview recommended agents to make sure your goals and styles align with one another. Your real estate agent has a fiduciary responsibility to you, and should work in your best interest to make sure you achieve your goal. It has been said that buying a home the biggest financial decision you will ever make in your life. So it’s important to make sure that you have a trusted advisor who is going to be there with you every step of the way.

This was a guest Post by Jason Wrenn.

Jason C. Wrenn, Realtor®
Central Properties, LLC
202-247-7513 (C)
202-232-0600 (O)
jwrenn@centralpropertiesdc.com
www.centralpropertiesdc.com