How to choose a Real Estate agent to help with a Home Purchase? Part 1
September 30th, 2009 categories: Buying, Edits, Phoenix real estate
I imagine how difficult task it might be, and knowing what I know, seeing it from this side of the fence, I wonder what would I do, if I was to move to another state.
And this is what I thought of: (and I guess this is a perspective of a total control freak) I would do a lot of work on my own before I could make a commitment to work with one person.
1. I would visit the town at least twice before. I would drive around as much as possible looking for “hints”
2. I would read online whatever possible about the best places to live there. Especially places that would allow me the lifestyle I want to have.
3. I would talk to people: (online friends, people in the town, strangers met randomly, bartenders, waiters…. Realtors too. : ) because the best place can really mean different things to everyone.
i.e. Gilbert was chosen once as one of the 3 best places to live in Metro Phoenix. (Phoenix Magazine)
However: Forbes magazine has chosen the city as one of the most boring in USA.
4. I would check criminal stats and compare them to other places in the town.
5. I would google everything.
6. I think I would rather rent for 3-6 months to get a better feel and in the meantime I would read the real estate contract and addenda and ask my agent for explanation of things that are not clear to me. A good agent should be very happy to explain everything in the details and make sure that there is not one thing that you don’t understand.
While interviewing an agent I would slice him and dice him and watch for red flags like:
“this is a safe area”, “there is no crime here”, “It is a quiet neighborhood” “trust me..”, ” trust me, everything will be all right, just sign the dotted line please” “maybe you want to check out the South part of town, there are many Polish people there” …nnnope… “this is a perfect time to buy a house” … I have developed an allergic reaction to such cliches; a perfect time to buy a house is when I want to buy a house. Except when I need to participate in a bidding war. As I recall “a perfect time to buy a house” was also in 2005.
7. I would talk to couple Realtors, I would give each of them a chance to impress me. I would look for honesty, modesty;
I could not stand if someone had a huge ego, (it rather hurts negotiations)
I would look for an ability to handle stressful situation , having things under control, and I would like to have a feeling that I am the most important person for her while she is working with me.
I would like her to LISTEN , really LISTEN to me, because there must be nothing more frustrating than someone trying to shape you according to their vision.
That is just like a hair stylist who will cut your hair according to what they like, not how you want it.
HOWEVER… HOWEVER.. as a Realtor I need to say- it happens to me ALL THE TIME: a new client says: I have to have such and such .. and they purchase a completely different property..
8. Definitely I would like the Realtor to show me few places before I would make the commitment.
I would like to check if they annoy me or answer all my questions in a satisfactory manner. If the agent opens a home for me, than walks in front of me “to show me the home” and talks all the time…
I would fire her this very minute.
I think people need to have a little more faith in the others intellectual capabilities: I don’t need anyone to show me: “…and here is the bathroom and here is the kitchen and here is the doggie door” …. believe me: I see it!!!!
Writing this I realized how much trust you must have in someone who represents you…
We need to eliminate the unnecessary stress from our lives.
I hear too often: I don’t like my Realtor.
Ok, than make the decision fast; work with someone whom – on top of all those other very important things- you like!
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