Your Fate is Tied to That Real Estate Agent

What’s the most important thing to consider when selecting a real estate agent? Is a large franchise better than a local independent company? Here in Metro Atlanta there are several of each variety; a few of the independents have hundreds of agents while others are “boutique” or “single/small team” offices. Given the myriad of choices, what are the most important things to consider when selecting a real estate firm and agent to represent you?

You are hiring a real estate agent, not the company so the focus should be immediately narrowed to that level. The current real estate environment bears no resemblance to that of ten or even five years ago. Technology has changed everything and experienced tech savvy agents can function at the same level as a company, consider:

• Realtors are bound to follow a set standard of performance and ethical guidelines. Not every agent is a Realtor – this is important to remember and can have a significant impact on your experience. Use a Realtor.
• A good agent has access to more technology to expose and find homes than ever before. The same programs a company uses are available to individual agents.
• Every agent has access to the MLS services, many national feeds are available. Every agent can modify, add, delete and otherwise manipulate their listings – no administrative support is required.
• MLS changes are available immediately to every agent locally and in many cases nationally.
• Public sites like Realtor.com, Trulia, Zillow, HomePad, Homes.com and the hundreds of others are accessed by subscribing agents, not companies. Agents are responsible for keeping those accurately posted.
• The contracts and forms used in transactions are standardized by the state, not the company. Everyone uses the same forms; it’s up to the individual agent to be skilled in crafting a contract that best represents your interests. Experienced agents are paperless – forms are on line and sent to clients via email to enhance speed and ease.

Agents will tout the firm they work for, spend time demonstrating the assets that the firm provides, espouse the performance of the firm during this lousy market and typically wrap themselves in the company banner – which is exactly what they should do because they pay for that banner. But the company isn’t being hired; the agent is so it’s critical to focus your attention there.

You are hiring a real estate agent to represent you in a major business transaction; arguably one of the largest you will ever be involved in and agent selection should be treated as a business decision. Focus should be on the agent and the agent’s performance over the last few years.  What questions should you ask your real estate agent? These 7 Questions should be used to prescreen agents, use these to gather background info then personally meet with 3-5 of the best you find.

So what’s in a name? Not as much as you think or will hear. It always comes down to the Realtor, not the company. Ask the right questions, challenge the talking points and check the performance claims; focus on the agent as that’s who will be at your side and representing you with this major endeavor. Check the Selecting a Realtor post category for more info on how to cut through the nonsense and find effective, professional agents.

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