Selecting a Realtor....the acid tests

I have been planning to write this piece for some time, but keep hoping that it will not be necessary.....I think it is not only necessary, it is imperative. Since starting in real estate over 8 years ago now, I have been absolutely amazed at the typical process both buyers and sellers go through in selecting their professional representative. The amazing thing is with the value of real estate today and the importance of real estate holdings to most people's net worth, you would think that people would spend a fair amount of time researching their options and picking the professional most apt to meet their goals. I think here of the way that people select their physician for a serious problem or a lawyer for an important situation or a financial advisor to assist in the creation and management of their hard-earned money.

Instead, what I see more often than not is the selection of a Realtor on the basis of affiliation....for example, going to the same place of worship, gym, supermarket; kids going to the same schools; neighbors....you get the point. I am here to say this: REALTORS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL.....AND DEFINITELY DO NOT DO THE SAME WORK. Realtor's backgrounds, skills, knowledge and financial resources are just of the few of the critical factors that distinguish our work.

A real estate salesperson's license in California can be gotten after taking just a few courses and passing a relatively easy licensing exam. This is next to nothing, when you compare it to the preparation and requirements to practice law, accounting, finance, all of which deal with similar professional services......so, the differences among Realtors have more to do education, skills and experience acquired before the individual began practicing real estate and the experience and training the person acquired once in real estate.....both are very important.

Beyond this, most Realtors are independent contractors. While many work for local, regional and national/internation companies, their relationship to these outfits is as an independent contractor, not an employee. Therefore, when it comes to marketing a property..... paying for high-end brochures, having powerful property websites that are optimized, having advertisements in a variety of newspapers and magazines etc., the Realtor is generally the one paying. Therefore, the Realtor's personal finances can be critical to the success of of a listing......there is no company that provides all that is available at no cost to the agent.....you get what you pay for.

With this background, I will provide a number of acid tests for selecting a Realtor....here is #1

#1: Buyers:
When you talk with the Realtor are they asking more questions than supplying answers.....?

This is vital to a Realtor's understanding of your needs. Finding the right property at the right price will only happen if the Realtor has spent the time getting into your head and heart or, if the Realtor is very lucky (crap shoot).

#1 : Sellers:
Is the Realtor available to respond to potential buyers and to you?

This is a vital, period. A timely response to a potential buyer or another Realtor with a potentially interested client is generally critical....Imagine a potential buyer passing your Realtor's sign on your property and putting in a call while parked in front of your property....this happens a lot. Does the Realtor answer? Call back within a few minutes? Do you have any indication that the Realtor will be as responsive to you after he or she has your listing as he or she was while trying to get your listing?

Here's the test: Call the Realtor's cell phone and office phone at various times of the day and evening, mid week and weekends from a variety of different phones (remember your phone number will be identified....you want the call to be blind). Jot down how many times the Realtor/representative answered the phone, or how long it took to get a call back.....
DO NOT IGNOR THE RESULTS OF THIS TEST, REMEMBER, YOU COULD BE THE POTENTIAL BUYER....