| Copyright 2005-2007 All Rights Reserved Charles E. Marunde & FreeRealEstateLaw.com |
Now, let's get to the fundamental rules on hiring a real estate agent. The rules
are not difficult, but are not widely known or not widely practiced.
Now, let's get into a fuller explanation of these criteria, because for you there is
much at stake--your money and happiness.
1. Identify an Agent who is first of all competent.
Before you even contact your agent, see what you can learn about a prospective
Realtor. Realtors like to talk about "prospects" like you. You might as well talk
about Realtors as prospective Realtors. Create a list of half a dozen Realtors,
and then filter though that list. Can you get a good referral from a trusted friend
or business associate? Add that name to your list. Check out the Internet web
sites to see who is doing what in the area you are interested in. Be careful not to
assume that a "Top Producer" can do the best job for you. Maybe. Maybe not.
We're looking for competence here, not just volume. Check out the Realtors
resume, and find out what has he been doing all these years that will contribute
to doing an extraordinary job for you. Frankly, someone who has been a
housewife for 25 years and then gets a real estate license probably does not
meet this competency standard. That person could do a great job for you on a
single family purchase or sale, but you can still end up with some very serious
and expensive battles because an addendum was not drafted precisely. We
never get away from the challenge that all Realtors have: when a Realtor drafts
a contract, they are held to the standard of a lawyer.
Look at the prospective Realtor's history. Does he have experience in anything
related to real estate that can be helpful as a Realtor? Was he a builder,
contractor, plumber, inspector, loan officer, title officer, escrow agent, attorney,
urban planner, or property manager? If not, it's not the end of the world, if he
has a great deal of education and experience that can substitute. Remember,
the goal is to find a Realtor who knows a lot more than you do about real estate
and drafting contracts, and who can keep you out of trouble in the process. You
want someone you feel is competent and can do a great job for you.
2. Filter through those who are competent with another qualification--
honesty.
Some may think I'm joking when I say find an honest Realtor. I'm not. Honesty in
this context isn't the simple childhood concept of not telling a lie. Today, our
culture has extended the boundary of subtle misrepresentations far into
dishonest territory, but it's not considered dishonest by most standards today.
Word games. There are plenty of them, and what isn't said is often as much of a
misrepresentation as what is said. So be on guard. Make sure you have enough
discernment to recognize honesty, or lack thereof. And, by the way, there are a
few very dishonest agents out there. Don't use them. ("Gee, he sure seemed
like a nice guy when we first met." Heard that one dozens of times.)
3. Hire the Agent because the Agent meets your criteria, not just
because the Agent works at a large franchise.
When you hire a Realtor, you hire the person, not some fictitious franchise or
building or corporate atmosphere. It's your Realtor who does the work, and if he
can't do it well, the rest of the Brokerage is not going to do it for him.
Furthermore, if he delegates important responsibilities to a non-licensed person
or a less experienced agent, what good did the franchise or largeness of the
company accomplish for you. Maybe the opposite of personal attention.
Ultimately, whether you get outstanding professional service depends on your
Realtor, not the rest of the building.
4. Know what to expect from your Agent, and know what he/she expects
of you.
If you have made a list of half a dozen prospective Realtors (as opposed to just a
real estate agent), filter through that list with further research, much of which can
be done right on the Internet. You should personally interview the final
contestants in person and in their office during the week day.
Once you have decided on a Realtor, tell him exactly what you expect of him, and
ask him if he could do those things for you. Then ask your Realtor something
virtually no one asks their Realtor in the beginning, "What exactly do you expect
of me?"
CONCLUSION. If you do all of these things carefully, you minimize the chances
of misunderstanding with your Realtor, you increase the probability of a
successful relationship and a successful real estate transaction, and that means
more money in your pocket and less stress. And as Martha Steward would say,
"That's a good thing."
are not difficult, but are not widely known or not widely practiced.
- Identify an Agent who is first of all competent.
- Filter through those who are competent with another qualification--honesty.
- Hire the Agent because the Agent meets your criteria, not just because the
Agent works at a large franchise. - Know what to expect from your Agent, and know what he/she expects of
you.
Now, let's get into a fuller explanation of these criteria, because for you there is
much at stake--your money and happiness.
1. Identify an Agent who is first of all competent.
Before you even contact your agent, see what you can learn about a prospective
Realtor. Realtors like to talk about "prospects" like you. You might as well talk
about Realtors as prospective Realtors. Create a list of half a dozen Realtors,
and then filter though that list. Can you get a good referral from a trusted friend
or business associate? Add that name to your list. Check out the Internet web
sites to see who is doing what in the area you are interested in. Be careful not to
assume that a "Top Producer" can do the best job for you. Maybe. Maybe not.
We're looking for competence here, not just volume. Check out the Realtors
resume, and find out what has he been doing all these years that will contribute
to doing an extraordinary job for you. Frankly, someone who has been a
housewife for 25 years and then gets a real estate license probably does not
meet this competency standard. That person could do a great job for you on a
single family purchase or sale, but you can still end up with some very serious
and expensive battles because an addendum was not drafted precisely. We
never get away from the challenge that all Realtors have: when a Realtor drafts
a contract, they are held to the standard of a lawyer.
Look at the prospective Realtor's history. Does he have experience in anything
related to real estate that can be helpful as a Realtor? Was he a builder,
contractor, plumber, inspector, loan officer, title officer, escrow agent, attorney,
urban planner, or property manager? If not, it's not the end of the world, if he
has a great deal of education and experience that can substitute. Remember,
the goal is to find a Realtor who knows a lot more than you do about real estate
and drafting contracts, and who can keep you out of trouble in the process. You
want someone you feel is competent and can do a great job for you.
2. Filter through those who are competent with another qualification--
honesty.
Some may think I'm joking when I say find an honest Realtor. I'm not. Honesty in
this context isn't the simple childhood concept of not telling a lie. Today, our
culture has extended the boundary of subtle misrepresentations far into
dishonest territory, but it's not considered dishonest by most standards today.
Word games. There are plenty of them, and what isn't said is often as much of a
misrepresentation as what is said. So be on guard. Make sure you have enough
discernment to recognize honesty, or lack thereof. And, by the way, there are a
few very dishonest agents out there. Don't use them. ("Gee, he sure seemed
like a nice guy when we first met." Heard that one dozens of times.)
3. Hire the Agent because the Agent meets your criteria, not just
because the Agent works at a large franchise.
When you hire a Realtor, you hire the person, not some fictitious franchise or
building or corporate atmosphere. It's your Realtor who does the work, and if he
can't do it well, the rest of the Brokerage is not going to do it for him.
Furthermore, if he delegates important responsibilities to a non-licensed person
or a less experienced agent, what good did the franchise or largeness of the
company accomplish for you. Maybe the opposite of personal attention.
Ultimately, whether you get outstanding professional service depends on your
Realtor, not the rest of the building.
4. Know what to expect from your Agent, and know what he/she expects
of you.
If you have made a list of half a dozen prospective Realtors (as opposed to just a
real estate agent), filter through that list with further research, much of which can
be done right on the Internet. You should personally interview the final
contestants in person and in their office during the week day.
Once you have decided on a Realtor, tell him exactly what you expect of him, and
ask him if he could do those things for you. Then ask your Realtor something
virtually no one asks their Realtor in the beginning, "What exactly do you expect
of me?"
CONCLUSION. If you do all of these things carefully, you minimize the chances
of misunderstanding with your Realtor, you increase the probability of a
successful relationship and a successful real estate transaction, and that means
more money in your pocket and less stress. And as Martha Steward would say,
"That's a good thing."
| "If you are buying a home, you either need to bring in experts to help you with the biggest investment of your life, or YOU must become an expert in negotiating, market value, title defects, encumbrances, drafting contracts with unambiguous language, dealing with contingencies and addendums, surveys, appraisals, home loans, real estate tax issues, structural and mechanical inspection concerns, the meaning of answers on the Seller's Disclosure Statement, handling earnest money, and a thousand and one real-life problems that actually occur. FreeRealEstateLaw.com is intended as a resource to help you personally work through these kinds of issues. Of course, we don't pretend to be your Attorney, and we recommend you retain your own legal counsel. Please see our Disclaimer." Charles E. Marunde, J.D. |
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How to Find a Really Great Realtor
| Chuck Marunde has retired from real estate law, but practices full time as a Real Estate Broker for Sequim & Port Angeles Real Estate, LLC on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula, Washington. You can find Chuck through this site and his email here or through his office at 360-775-5424. As you can see, Chuck enjoys writing, teaching, and sharing knowledge to help good people. You can also request that Chuck put on a free seminar for you or your company. |
Dear Reader,
I hope all this information is helpful to you. I want to take just a couple of
seconds of your time to explain my motivation. I've spent almost my entire adult
life learning how to sell and buy real estate, a fortune in education to be a real
estate attorney, degrees, etc., and I've spent half my life learning how to market
and sell. As you can see from my profile, I've also handled hundreds of
transactions (maybe it's thousands now) as a Realtor and Real Estate Attorney.
I really want all those years to mean something and be helpful to you. But I've
seen so many real estate disasters, and that's how lawyers make so much money.
I am a real estate consultant, previously licensed as a real estate attorney for 20 years, and now
Owner/Broker of Sequim & Port Angeles Real Estate, LLC. as an associate broker. I have learned from the
nightmares of others that experience matters. I promise you all my knowledge and experience will work for
you, and I promise you absolute honesty and diligence. In other words, I'll do a fantastic job for you--meaning,
I'll get you the best possible price and keep you out of traps for the unwary. The next step, if you are
interested, is to call me. I'll come to your home, and we can talk while you decide if I'm the kind of person you
would like to work with. I look forward to your call and meeting you.
Very truly yours,
Chuck E. Marunde, J.D. (Sequim & Port Angeles)
(360) 775-5424
I hope all this information is helpful to you. I want to take just a couple of
seconds of your time to explain my motivation. I've spent almost my entire adult
life learning how to sell and buy real estate, a fortune in education to be a real
estate attorney, degrees, etc., and I've spent half my life learning how to market
and sell. As you can see from my profile, I've also handled hundreds of
transactions (maybe it's thousands now) as a Realtor and Real Estate Attorney.
I really want all those years to mean something and be helpful to you. But I've
seen so many real estate disasters, and that's how lawyers make so much money.
I am a real estate consultant, previously licensed as a real estate attorney for 20 years, and now
Owner/Broker of Sequim & Port Angeles Real Estate, LLC. as an associate broker. I have learned from the
nightmares of others that experience matters. I promise you all my knowledge and experience will work for
you, and I promise you absolute honesty and diligence. In other words, I'll do a fantastic job for you--meaning,
I'll get you the best possible price and keep you out of traps for the unwary. The next step, if you are
interested, is to call me. I'll come to your home, and we can talk while you decide if I'm the kind of person you
would like to work with. I look forward to your call and meeting you.
Very truly yours,
Chuck E. Marunde, J.D. (Sequim & Port Angeles)
(360) 775-5424
| Your Real Estate Consultant, Chuck Marunde says: |