Beginning Your Home Search with the Right Realtor

Word of mouth is a powerful form of advertisement. Why? First, you are able to gain an impromptu testimony from an individual who may have utilized the service. Second, if you are face to face, you may also view the facial expressions, gestures, and communication nuances that may help you decipher if the individual's feedback is reliable, vindictive, or simply supporting someone they feel is a friend. Third, the person's thoughts and statements are not well-planned out since it is happening in the moment. Therefore, a flurry of helpful information and insight can be gained from word of mouth advertisements. So, what does this have to do with selecting a realtor when engaging in a search for your dream home? It has a lot to do with it when you want to select someone who is reliable, supportive, and knowledgeable about his or her profession. As a result, here a few tips and possible warning signs before making a contracted commitment to a realtor.

1. BEWARE of realtors who "overly" toot their own horns. What do I mean by this? For example, be cautious about someone who consistently reminds you that he or she is the best in the community and have the top home sale rates. Why be cautious? Although this is the individual's profession and money is certainly important, such statements revolve around the person's professional achievement and reveals the goal to remain in the top spot. In contrast, there may be little comment about relationships with clients and tuning into client needs. When a realtor is able to "hear" a client's interests and respond to this by identifying homes that reflect the emotions and intent of the client, this is a strength. Yet, when the focus is on the next sale, even if it does not line up with the client's interest, beware...as you may end up with a property that you could regret. Regret could yield from the size of the home and your inability to maintain it, a location that is inconsistent with your needs, or even a mortgage loan payment that exceeds your budget. Therefore, take note of the statements of the realtor and what this reveals about his or her motives.

2. CHECK references beyond those that are provided by the realtor. Certainly, persons who agreed to be references for the realtor may have had great experiences. Yet, what about those who did not agree to provide references? What is their opinion? What was their experience? Why were those individuals not asked to be a reference? This information is important to determine so you can have a well-rounded view of the realtor.

3. ENGAGE in a little "off-topic" conversation so you may learn more about the realtor's personality. This may help you to determine if you are just another client name on the file or if you are a unique individual with specific needs that the realtor will seek to address.

Overall, when conducting your home search the realtor can be a key party. Yet, it is critical to determine if the realtor has your best interest at hand or simply wants to fulfill a goal resulting in your needs being overlooked. Therefore, be sure to beware, check, and engage when determining which realtor may be the best fit for you.