How long have you been in residential real estate? Is it your full-time job?<\/strong> Do you have any designations or certifications?<\/strong> What\u2019s your business philosophy?<\/strong> How many buyers did you and your real estate brokerage represent last year?<\/strong> What\u2019s the average variation between your initial offers and final sales price?<\/strong> Will you represent me exclusively, or might you choose to represent the seller as well?<\/strong> Can you recommend service providers who can help me obtain a mortgage, make home repairs, and so on?<\/strong> How will you keep me informed about the progress of my transaction?<\/strong>
\nLike most professions, experience is no guarantee of skill. But much of real estate is learned on the job.<\/p>\n
\nReal estate professionals have to take additional specialized training in order to obtain these distinctions. Designations and certifications help define the special skills that an agent can apply to your particular real estate needs. One designation buyers should look for is the ABR\u00ae, or Accredited Buyer\u2019s Representative.<\/p>\n
\nWhile there\u2019s no right answer to this question, the response will help you assess what\u2019s important to the agent and determine how closely the agent\u2019s goals and business emphasis mesh with your own.<\/p>\n
\nThis will tell you how much experience they have and how up-to-date they are on the local market.<\/p>\n
\nThis is one indication of a REALTOR\u00ae\u2019s pricing and negotiating skills.<\/p>\n
\nWhile it\u2019s usually legal to represent both parties in a transaction, your REALTOR\u00ae should be able to explain his or her philosophy on client obligations and agency relationships.<\/p>\n
\nPractitioners should be able to recommend more than one provider and let you know if they have any special relationship with any of the providers.<\/p>\n
\nThe best answer here is a question. A real estate agent who pays close attention to the way you prefer to communicate and responds accordingly will make for the smoothest transaction.<\/p>\n