I am in my sixth year as a Realtor, and my business motto is, “Do business to do business again,” which means I want you to use me in the future! As your Realtor, I have the ability to be objective while fighting 100% for your best interest and being a fiduciary for you, my client. I personally handle all of my deals from the listing agreement to the closing. The really difficult part of the deal comes after the contract is executed. After execution, there are inspections, surveys, repair amendments and so many other items that can come into play before the contract even gets past an option period.
ADDRESS AND PRIORITIZE EACH PART OF THE NEGOTIATION.
While some Realtors have very experienced contract to close assistants they can turn these negotiations over to, other Realtors turn the process over to inexperienced office staff that may not have any history in negotiating these very subjective items. Some of these office staff may not even be licensed to practice real estate, a much bigger issue in my opinion.
REPAIRS, AND ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT MAY ARISE BEFORE THE SALE IS CLOSED.
I also have a large group of experienced professional vendors that clients can get quotes from, ask questions of, and get needed items addressed. In the end, the client decides who to call when it comes to these items, but it’s always nice to get multiple quotes from multiple professionals who you can bounce different ideas off of to assist in the final decision.
The commission paid to a Realtor is a negotiable item. Once a listing agreement is signed, the commission becomes binding based on what is agreed to in the listing agreement. 6% is a standard commission structure in which 3% goes to the selling agent and 3% goes to the listing agent. Again this is a negotiated percentage. Many multi-million dollar deals may have different structures on how agents are paid.
When you interview me, I will tell you that Realtors are worth what they earn. This sounds like a sales pitch, I know; however, I have used a Realtor for all of my transactions, even before becoming one. My broker was my Realtor long before I worked under his brokerage as a Realtor myself. The reason I hired him was my trust in his professional knowledge and his ability to make the process better for me as his client. This is what I strive to do for all of my clients, make the process better. I have the ability to see things from an objective viewpoint and help move things in a positive direction. My experience as a Realtor, and my list of trusted and professional vendors, give me the ability to care for you, the buyer/seller.
So here’s the bottom line, hire a Realtor that is experienced, knowledgeable, and works personally with their clients. This starts with interviewing your Realtor thoroughly. Make sure that they understand all your needs/wants/hopes/dreams. You need to ask detailed questions about how they handle each aspect of the transaction, and most importantly, find out if you will always be making the final decisions with them, or one of their assistants. Sure, you want to hire someone that you enjoy being around and talking to multiple times on the phone, but you really need someone who is objective, remains in control, can make crucial decisions without emotion, and will be there with you every step of the way.
I’ll close with a personal story. I recently did a deal with another Realtor whose client used a low-cost Broker, and honestly, it was a disaster. One day, I received 5 phone calls from 5 different representatives all asking for the same document. Again, you get what you pay for. Not once during that transaction did those representatives call that buyer by their name; they only referenced the property address. I got the deal done for my seller who never knew the details of these many phone calls because I personally handled each one and kept the deal moving.
Real Estate transactions are some of the biggest transactions you will ever make in your life. You need someone who is experienced, trustworthy, and will personally assist you in getting the best deal possible from contract to close. I would be happy to be that person for you.