What you want.
You want the best possible home, in a fine neighborhood, at a price you can afford, at
the most favorable terms, and with the least possible problems.
To achieve these five elements, your shortest road to success is to work with a
competent, professional Realtor - one you trust. You want someone who cares about
you, your family and their specific needs and you want someone who works hard and
who returns your phone calls in a timely fashion. When you find a Realtor of that
description hold on to her.
Give your Realtor your undivided loyalty and it will come back to you a hundredfold.
You will be shown fresh listings, as they come off the multi-list computer. You will be
well educated in the many ways you can finance your purchase and you will be
guided through the weeks or months until you settle on your new home.
Selling a home is a very small part of the services rendered by a competent
professional Realtor.
You will be assisted with inspections, such as pest and radon, appraisals, water and
septic tests (where applicable), and your Realtor will guide you through the mortgage
process.
Agents historically have represented the seller in all transaction, due to their
compensation coming from a seller.
However, in recent years, most Realtors offer "Buyer Agency", in which the Realtor
actually represent the Buyer and is still paid, in most cases, by the seller.
Your Realtor can explain these options to you, before you start searching for your
home.
How to work with your chosen Realtor.
Newspapers. Go ahead look through the newspaper each morning. Circle the ads
that appeal to you. Include the "By Owners", too. Then call your Realtor and have
that person gather the information for you. A licensed professional can show you
most, if not all, the homes for sale in your area.
Signs. When you're driving around town, you will often see homes for sale. Jot down
the addresses and the Realtor's name on the "For Sale" sign (your Realtor can find
their phone number). Then, call your exclusive Realtor and get the information you
want.
Your Realtor will NOT think you are a "pain in the neck", but rather will think you are a
loyal and treasured customer.
Not only will they get you the information you requested, but they will bend over
backwords to serve you.
Open House. Get a stack of your Realtor's business cards. Whenever you go to an
Open House, show the card to the person who is showing the property.
By doing this you not only protect the relationship with your Realtor, you also will not
be misleading the salesperson at the home whose job it is to try to either sell you
that home or convert you into a customer. You will be free to tour the home at your
pace.
If you happen to see an Open House while you are out for a Sunday drive and you
don't have your Realtor's card with you, be sure to mention your Realtor's name and if
there is a sign-in sheet, put your personal Realtor's name on the sheet.
If you do not identify your Realtor, the person at the Open House gets your sale, and
your personal Realtor will have worked with no compensation for time, energy and
gas.
Please note: Your Realtor must accompany you to new developments or they will not
be honored.
How a Realtor gets compensated.
Few people realize that a Realtor is a self-employed professional who has a license
with a real estate firm.
The only payment a Realtor receives is a commission at settlement which is usually
paid by the Seller of a property.
To help you understand even more, try to put yourself in a Realtor's shoes. The
Realtor, as a self-employed contractor, pays dues in excess of $1,000 a year. They
pay their own social security and health benefits. There are no paid vacations. Cars
and gasoline are part of the costs of being in business for oneself.
There are no draws, no salaries. You can work with a Realtor for months, but the only
way that person will get paid is if you purchase the property.
Please give your Realtor your loyalty and trust and in return they will work very
hard for you!
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
