Three questions to ask when interviewing a Real Estate Agent
What should you look for in a Real Estate Agent that will give the highest chance of success when buying or selling your most valuable assets? The answer is simple:
Full-time. Professional. Expert.
Most of us have heard horror stories from real estate transactions. People enter our industry for a wide range of reasons from a range of professional and personal backgrounds. Some have limited conceptions of agent responsibilities. They expect high returns on investment for low time spent working on a transaction. To avoid your own horror story – interview multiple agents and ask them these three questions.
- Is Real Estate Agent their full-time job?
A great agent can make a transaction appear seamless and trouble-free even when there is a furious amount of work going on behind the scenes. An agent in a transaction should be receiving and giving frequent updates. They should be working diligently with the lender, lender’s appraiser, Title Company, counterpart REALTOR™, service industry representatives like cleaners, contractors and handymen – even on occasion local city, county and government officials. Recently many agents have entered the industry who are unaware of the scope of their responsibilities and feel they can appropriately represent clients as a side-hustle. Proper representation is a full-time job and you should expect that from your realtor. Do you want to be a side-hustle?
- Will this agent comport themself in a professional manner?
“An Agency relationship is: … consent by one person to another that the other person shall act in his behalf” (https://www.shsu.edu/klett/agency%20et%20al.htm). In other words, for the purpose of day to day interactions with the various industry representatives named above – your agent acts as you. Often the outcome of a successful negotiation, completion of a task, or discovery of a solution relies on the ability of professionals to collaborate calmly and reasonably. A lackadaisical approach or vulgar personality will reduce your chance for success in the trenches and behind the scenes. Does your agent dress, speak, write, and act in a way that represents your best interests and your values?
- Is this agent an expert in their field?
You should expect your agent to hold the appropriate license and some educational certifications. If recent or robust education is lacking – look online to see evidence of your interviewee’s expertise. Look at their current and sold listings. Are the photos done professionally and is the property adequately prepared for market? Has the agent done a high volume of sales and do they have recent positive reviews online? If you really like an agent but they are inexperienced - it may not be the end of the world. Ask them if they have access to mentors, legal experts, administrative help, a bevy of sales managers, and tools to help them do market analysis. You may be ok with a new agent in a collaborative brokerage like Phyllis Browning Company who is part of a team of experienced professionals. Everyone starts somewhere – and good new agents become superstars when they have the proper support staff around them.
Buying and selling a house is a major transaction. You want the best possible return on your investment, and the best possible representation. Interview several real estate agents before you commit to one, and choose one who is a full-time, professional real estate expert.
David Abrahams is Agent and Team Leader with the Abrahams Real Estate TIES Team at Phyllis Browning Company. He leads a team of full-time, professional, expert agents. He believes that when you choose your real estate agent to represent you, you should expect nothing less than The Very Best. Visit www.realestateties.com to learn more about the Abrahams Real Estate TIES Team.
