Is Your Realtor Working Hard For You?

Choosing a Realtor

Part of a series on the home buying and selling process.

One of the most important considerations in buying or selling a home, is your choice of a real estate agent. Many people choose an agent based on suggestions from friends, neighbors or family members, feeling confident they are working with someone they know and trust. Hopefully you've made an informed decision and your experience is all you thought it would be.

Experts recommend that to ensure that your experience goes smoothly, delve a little deeper into how your agent runs their business.

• Are they a member of the National Association of Realtors?

• Will they be available when you need them?

• Do they keep up with emerging trends?

• Do they build on their knowledge base with research and continuing education? Do they have strong brokerage support?

• Do they use social media to communicate with the marketplace?

• Do they use the latest technology in their business?

Sometimes the real estate profession gets a bad rap for lack of professionalism and the perception that agents don't work very hard to earn their commission. Many of these complaints stem from agents not running their business, like a business! Getting a real estate license doesn’t take all that much effort, but running a successful real estate business does. It takes a lot more than sticking a sign in a yard or showing a few homes to be a great agent.

Here are some things that a great Realtor should do for you:

• Advise you about the present market conditions.

• Examine what you want and what you need in your home.

• Coordinate the work of different experts involved throughout the procedure.

• Provide frequent updates and quickly return calls, emails and texts.

• Discover homes that fit your criteria and spending plan.

• Negotiate on your behalf to get you the most ideal investment.

• Clarify and guide you through the offer.

• Check paperwork and due dates.

• Advise and help break down everything that is going on during the process.

• Recommend possible solutions for any issues that may emerge.

• Map out a process in helping you achieve your home buying or selling goals within a suitable time frame.

A great Realtor anticipates where the bumps in the road may be and helps you navigate smoothly through the home buying or selling process. Above all a great Realtor is someone you can count on to have your back every step of the way.

We are Elisa Dichiara and Holly Sirois, the real estate team, Two Girls and a Key.