Steps in Finding The Best Real Estate Agent around Lake Murray

(from Bankrate.com)

1. Talk with recent clients

Ask agents to provide a list of what they’ve listed and sold in the past year, with contact information, says Ron Phipps, past president of the Chicago-based National Association of Realtors, or NAR. Before you start calling the names, ask the agent if anyone will be “particularly pleased or particularly disappointed,” he says.

With past clients, “I’d like to know what the asking price was and then what the sales price was,” says William Poorvu, adjunct professor emeritus at Harvard Business School and co-author of “The Real Estate Game: The Intelligent Guide to Decision-making and Investment.”

And, if you’re the seller, ask if these past properties are similar to yours in price, location and other salient features, Poorvu says. What you want is someone who specializes in exactly what you’re selling.

2. Look up the licensing

States will have boards that license and discipline real estate agents in those states, says Phipps. Check with your state’s regulatory body to find out if the person is licensed and if there have been any disciplinary actions or complaints, or check to see if the information is posted online.

3. Pick a winner

Peer-given awards count, says Phipps. One that really means something is the “Realtor of the Year” designation awarded by the state or local branch of NAR.

“These agents are the best as judged by their peers,” he says. “That’s a huge endorsement.”

4. Select an agent with the right credentials

Just as doctors specialize, so do real estate agents. And even generalists will get additional training in some areas. So that alphabet soup after the name can be an indication that the person has taken additional classes in a certain specialty of real estate sales. Here’s what some of the designations mean:

CRS (Certified Residential Specialist): Completed additional training in handling residential real estate.
ABR (Accredited Buyer’s Representative): Completed additional education in representing buyers in a transaction.
SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist): Completed training aimed at helping buyers and sellers in the 50-plus age range.

If the agent calls himself a Realtor with a capital “R,” that means he’s a member of NAR. By hiring a Realtor, “the most important thing you get is an agent who formally pledges to support the code of ethics,” says Phipps.

5. Research how long the agent has been in business

You can often find out how long the agent has been selling real estate from the state licensing authority. Or, you can just ask the agent.

“If they haven’t been in business five years, they’re learning on you and that’s not good,” says Robert Irwin, author of “Tips & Traps When Buying a Home.”

Ultimately, what you’re looking for is someone who is actively engaged in a particular area and price range, says Phipps. You’ll want to know what knowledge of those two factors they can demonstrate and “what kind of market presence they have,” he says.

6. Look at their current listings

Check out an agent’s listings online, says Brobeck. Two places to look are the agency’s own site and Realtor.com, a website that compiles properties in the Multiple Listing Service into a searchable online database.

Most buyers start their search on the Internet, and you want an agent who uses that tool effectively. “A key thing is an attractive presentation on the Web,” says Brobeck.

You also can look at how closely the agent’s listings mirror the property you want to buy or sell. Are they in the same area? Is the price range similar? And does the agent have enough listings to indicate a healthy business but not so many that you’d just be a number?

7. Ask about other houses for sale nearby

A good agent should know about other area properties that are available “off the top of his head,” says Irwin. Mention a house in your area that’s sold recently or is for sale. If the agent knows the property and can give you a few details, that means he or she really knows your area, he says. “You want someone like that who’s on top of the market.”

Finally you should take time to carefully review the Realtor’s Internet Presence.  According to a recent survey by Google and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), over 90{09b30413bcd4b67d3653f97ec4c8b68d29e9981d1a107cf486166bf151cc689d} of potential homeowners will use the internet in their home search!  So it’s a no brainer!  Your Realtor must have a website that is easy to use AND has all the property available in your homes area.

Visit their website and see if its easy to use and accurate.  Remember your Realtors Internet Marketing Presence is hugely important to their (and YOUR) success!

Buying or Selling.  Having the Right Resources Are Key!

Whether you’re buying or selling, ultimately you need the right team to guide you through the process.  The relationship between and buyer and a Realtor (especially for a first-time buyer) is extremely important.  First your Realtor is representing you.  Choose a Realtor whom you feel understands your needs and works in a timely, professional manner.  Second, your Realtor will be your front-person in all negotiations.  A real estate agent’s regional expertise allows the agent to identify long-term value in your property as well as provide you with valuable local resources that may be relevant to your home-buying needs and objectives.

Take your time choosing the right Realtor. Look not only to the quantity of their inventory but to the number of days their listings have been on the market.  Be willing to ask the hard questions about their sale and inventory statistics.  Just because a brokerage has a large quantity of inventory does not mean they are selling.  A good Realtor will be open, honest and trustworthy.  So in their competitive analysis they should be able to tell you if your dream home is over-priced or priced right for the market and neighborhood.  Markets are often filled with overpriced homes.  An agent who knows your needs and wants will be able to filter through any riffraff and present you with exactly the options that work for you.