Why Use a Realtor?Many consumers consider selling their home directly but eventually turn to REALTORS®. Smart home sellers realize they need the expertise in pricing their home, making connections with REALTORS® working with buyers, arranging and staffing open houses, and coordinating with other professionals in the sales process. Only about half of all real estate agents are REALTORS® -- the top half, in our not-so-humble opinion. REALTORS® work independently, for small agencies, or for large brokerages. They help people buy and sell residential or commercial properties, vacation homes, and land; they conduct appraisals; they operate in the United States and in other countries; some specialize in auctions; and others are buyer's representatives.
REALTORS® Are Experts
The home price for sellers who use an agent is 16 percent higher than for those who don't, according to NAR's 2005 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, and nine out of 10 home buyers use a real estate agent in the search process.
Why Use a REALTOR®?
Real estate transactions involve one of the biggest financial investments most people experience in their lifetime.
REALTORS® Are Part of the Community
REALTORS® Work to End Housing Discrimination - during April, which is Fair Housing Month, and all year long. REALTORS® are active members of their communities.
REALTORS® Protect You
Only REALTORS® follow a Code of Ethics
To be a member of NAR and a REALTOR®, a real estate agent must abide by a set of professional principles and serve clients fairly. |
6 Reasons You Need a REALTOR® | Questions to Ask When Choosing a REALTOR® |
| We are both REALTORS®. That means that we have taken the time to prove that we are committed to providing our clients with the most professional, personal and courteous service that we can. Here is a list of reasons why you need a REALTOR® to handle all of your real estate transactions. | When you are ready to start the buying or selling process, it is really important for you to select a professional REALTOR®. It is important for you to ask the following questions and to feel comfortable with the agent you select. We will be happy to answer all your questions. |
1. A real estate transaction is complicated. In most cases, buying or selling a home requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page government-mandated settlement statements. A knowledgeable guide through this complexity can help you avoid delays or costly mistakes. | 1. How long have you been in residential real estate sales? Is it your full-time job? (While experience is no guarantee of skill, real estate, like many other professions, is mostly learned on the job.)
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| 2. What designations do you hold? (Designations, such as GRI and CRS®, which require that real estate professionals take additional, specialized real estate training, are held by only about one-quarter of real estate practitioners.) |
| 2. Selling or buying a home is time consuming. A REALTOR® will do the legwork for you (i.e., select only the houses/condos/co-ops that most match your criteria). Once you have an accepted offer, there are a lot of steps in the transaction and the agent’s job is guide you through them. This process could take as much as 60 days or so for the transaction to close. | 3. How close to the initial asking prices of the homes you sold were the final sale prices? |
| 4. What types of specific marketing systems and approaches will you use to sell my home? (Look for someone who has aggressive, innovative approaches, not just someone who’s going to put a sign in the yard and hope for the best.) |
| 3. Real estate has its own language. If you don’t know a CMA from a PUD, you can understand why it’s important to work with someone who speaks that language. | 5. Will you represent me exclusively, or will you represent both the buyer and the seller in the transaction? (While it’s usually legal to represent both parties in a transaction, it’s important to understand where the practitioner’s obligations lie. A good practitioner will explain the agency relationship to you and describe the rights of each party. It’s also possible to insist that the practitioner represent you exclusively.) |
4. REALTORS® have done it before. Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. And even if you’ve done it before, laws and regulations change. That’s why having an expert on your side is critical. | 6. Can you recommend service providers who can assist me in obtaining a mortgage, making repairs on my home, and other things I need done? (Keep in mind here that real estate professionals should generally recommend more than one provider and should tell you if they receive any compensation from any provider.) |
| 5. REALTORS® provide objectivity. Since a home often symbolizes family, rest, and security; not just four walls and roof, home selling or buying is often a very emotional undertaking. And for most people, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you keep focused on both the business and emotional issues most important to you. | 7. What type of support and supervision does your brokerage office provide to you? (Having resources, such as in-house support staff, access to a real estate attorney, or assistance with technology, can help a real estate professional sell your home.) |
| 6. REALTORS® are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, a trade organization of more than 1 million members nationwide. REALTORS® subscribe to a stringent code of ethics that helps guarantee the highest level of service and integrity. | 8. What’s your business philosophy? (While there’s no right answer to this question, the response will help you assess what’s important to the real estate practitioner—fast sales, service, etc.—and determine how closely the practitioner’s goals and business emphasis mesh with your own.) |
| | 9. How will you keep me informed about the progress of my transaction? How frequently? Using what media? (Again, this is not a question with a correct answer, but that one reflects your desires. Do you want updates twice a week or don’t want to be bothered unless there’s a hot prospect? Do you prefer phone, e-mail, or a personal visit?) |
| 10. Could you please give me the names and phone numbers of your three most recent clients? |
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