Ocean Breezes Blog

So, you're ready to buy or sell, are you?  If you haven't yet found a REALTOR® to work with I hope you will read this first. 

You have a right to expect certain things from your REALTOR®.  Basic things.  None of the things I am going to list are unusual or off the wall. They are, in my opinion, the basics that every buyer, seller, tenant or landlord should expect and receive from their REALTOR®. 

Unfortunately, some agents are not providing these basics.  I don't really know why, they just aren't.  It is important that you find a REALTOR® that you are comfortable with and that will provide these things without a second thought.  There are many REALTORS® out there that will fit this bill, and you need to find one of them.

I could try to give you this list in order of importance, but what is most important to one, may not even be a blip on the radar to another.  So I will list the things I believe are fair, reasonable and required from your REALTOR®.  You can decide which, if any, are most important.

KNOWLEDGE.  Your REALTOR® should know the local market, the laws in your state, county and city as they pertain to the business of Real Estate.  They should know the basics of mortagages.  They should understand the contracts well enough to explain any part in great detail.  No, they are not attorneys, but they take classes on these contracts and they'd better know the intent of every paragraph and how to explain each one as to the impact on your transaction and your potential liability.

PROFESSIONALISM.  Your REALTOR® should at all times comport themselves with PROFESSIONALISM.  It should be on display whether they are dealing with you, another agent, a buyer or seller, a loan officer.  You get the picture -- everyone.  I'm not talking stuffy, that would probably get old pretty fast.  I am talking about good old-fashioned PROFESSIONALISM.  They should show respect to you, themselves, their profession and to others with whom you may come in contact during the transaction.

COMMUNICATION.  Your REALTOR® should maintain regular communication with you.  Should you have a question, you should not have to wait days for a response.  Granted, your REALTOR® is probably a busy person, but you are their Client.  Part of displaying PROFESSIONALISM is being available and responsive to your needs.  Decide up-front what will be the most common way to communicate.  Maybe you prefer email to phone calls, or the other way around.  Be sure to work with a REALTOR® who understands and respects how often you wish to hear from him/her.  

HONESTY.  Your REALTOR® should at all times be up-front and honest with you.  But keep in mind, they have Fair Housing Laws to follow, so just because you would like an answer and they are unable to give you the one you want, they are not necessarily being dishonest, they are being PROFESSIONAL.  If they cannot answer your question they should be able to point you in the right direction for getting it answered.

FLEXIBLE.  Your REALTOR® should be flexible about appointments and calls.  Yes, your REALTOR® has a life outside of Real Estate and it is just as important to them as yours is to you.  But Real Estate is not a 9-5 job, it requires some flexibility from all parties.  Find out in the beginning if the REALTOR you are talking with is on the same page as you.

ETHICAL.  Your REALTOR® should not only follow the law, they should follow the Code of Ethics from the National Association of REALTORS®.  This is important, it dictates the REALTORS® duties to Clients, Customers, the Public and other REALTORS®.

This is a very brief list.  There are many more things that you will find to be important to you and you will need to discuss them with your REALTOR®.  He or she should be open to your needs and wants and never make you feel as though you are an intrusion.  Interview a few before you decide which one to work with.  And don't settle for anything less than what you consider to be the best!

If you are looking to buy or sell in Wrightsville Beach, NC, give me a call, I would be delighted to work with you!