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Brought to you by RPS Relocation Service
Whether you are buying or selling a home, you need an agent with whom you can comfortably work and who will do the most capable job for you. Someone who is aggressive and has laid out a
practical plan for you, using your housing guidelines.
Find out how
well the agent knows the areas that you are considering.
Inquire about
credentials, licensing and areas of expertise.
Learn if the
agent and agency belongs to the Multiple Listing Service.
Ask about the
types of homes the agent typically deals with. Are these similar to what you are
buying and/or selling?
Look for an
agency that provides more than just house-hunting. Some offerings to look for:
School and community information.
A customized relocation packet with information about the city, housing market, mortgage
financing and local real estate.
A service to find medical personnel.
An agency that can assist you with rental property if you need interim housing.
An agency that will help with a spousal employment search.
Ability to video-tape houses to show children who could not attend the house-hunting trip.
Particulars about volunteer organizations, activities, day care facilities and retirement
centers.
If you do not
believe an agent is doing a thorough job for you, or you feel extremely uncomfortable with
this person, choose someone else. You will be spending a lot of time with your agent and
will rely on him/her for credible information, so make sure you like and trust your
representative.
Ask what your agent will do for you:
1. "What
is your marketing plan for my property?" Look for advertising specifics
(brochures and flyers) and an open house agenda. The agent should also detail a plan
with other Realtors in the area about property by using mailings, phone calls and
"agent's opens." Get quantitative promises - when and where ads will run
for example.
2. "How often can I rely on you to call or write me with feedback?" Good agents should contact their clients every week (even if news is not
encouraging). Mondays are best because week-ends present the most opportunities for
viewing.
3. "Could you give me a list of your satisfied clients as references?" Make sure the list contains owners of properties in similar neighborhoods and/or
price ranges.
4. "What percentage of the asking price, on average, have you received for the
homes you've sold during the last year?"
5. "What is the average number of days your listed homes stay on the
market?"
Changing agents
once you've entered into a contract to buy a house is difficult, so you want to find a
reliable agent at the start. Only consider making a change if you are not happy with the
service. First, call the agent and your Relocation Counselor and express your concerns;
then if the agent does not rectify the situation, pursue another agent search. Remember, your Relocation Counselor is here to assist you with these services, including
any changes you may need. |
