DoorFly.com: 10 Characteristics of a Great Realtor

There are many tricks to the trade in the real estate market and each realtor has their own special strategies in assisting home owners and buyers in the buying and selling process to maximize their results. A good realtor is an effective realtor- one with driven results. While the working relationship between realtor and client is essential, the realtor must also be well rounded and experienced and be in good standing with the National Association of Realtors. As a client there are many signs you can watch for to discover if you have a realtor that truly makes it to the top of the list in the real estate industry.

Open House: There’s no question that open houses may be the biggest tool that realtors and homeowners have in the selling process of a home. There are two types of open houses: a broker‘s open house and a public open house. A successful realtor will be strategic in his planning and resort to such measures as serving cold cuts and salad, inviting all the brokers for an “open house lunch” where they gather together as friends and discuss the listing and view the home. For the public display of the home the realtor and/or his agents may have the homeowner bake chocolate chip cookies creating a wonderful aroma throughout the house and having a pleasant treat for the potential home owners.

Neighborhood Specialist: Although many home sellers and home buyers feel most comfortable working with someone they know or someone that a friend or family member has suggested, when shopping or selling in a specific area, a Realtor that is a neighborhood specialist is the best choice for buying and selling. Neighborhood specialist have the advantage in knowledge of the neighborhood such as the history of homes, which homes have previously been listed, why some homes are valued at a higher price, how to price homes in the neighborhood, relationships with other agents in the neighborhood making it possible to get inside information, etc.

Web Savvy: With the innovation of the Internet, every great Realtor today will be web savvy. The days of driving clients from home to home to view what is available on the market has nearly ceased. Today, every great realtor lists their client’s homes on their website which should have a high presence on the web. The description of the home will include a detailed description of the home with pictures. Statistics show that homebuyers today first shop the Internet to find their dream home with 71% first utilizing the Internet.

Professional Network: When buying and selling a home, there are many professionals that are involved in the process- such as the home inspector. Although most realtors and their agents will be hesitate to recommend a certain company or individual, they are familiar with and have knowledge of the various vendors and their reputation and competency. Should you choose a vendor that is not highly regarded in the industry they will likely steer you away from your selection.

Education: The realtor’s education and experience are not only extremely important, what the realtor teaches you as the home seller or buyer is also extremely important. A good realtor will familiarize you with the terminology of real estate, and take you step by step through the process of buying or selling a home, ensuring that you understand and are aware of all the fine details and the terminology used in the process.

Integrity: Integrity is vital in a realtor. Integrity is a concept of consistency of values, actions, measures, methods, expectations, outcomes and principles. It is considered a sense of one’s truthfulness and honesty in relationship to one’s motives and actions. Integrity is one’s character and in the real estate market it is a valued system in which many realtors are judged.

Experience and Skill: There are many steps in the process of buying and selling a home and it is essential for realtors to have good negotiating skills. Aside from negotiating beyond the asking price there are areas to negotiate such as the condition of the house upon move in and financing. A good realtor will be able to negotiate every angle of the selling process.

Market Awareness: Every great realtor is knowledgeable of the area in which they represent. This means not only knowing the area’s MLS listings, but what is not listed and what is going to be placed on the market. In a realtor, this is a vital quality as it can mean the difference between your dream home and settling on a home that will fit your need.

Variables: There are many factors that are used when placing the value on a property. Location is one of the biggest determinants. A good realtor will know everything there is to know about the area, its school districts, noise makers, average household income, the crime rate index, neighbors, what makes the highest values in the area, average age of the area’s residents, percentage of homes with children under the age of 18, etc.

Communication Skills: Good communication is good business. In the real estate industry, ineffective communication can be costly. The selling and purchase of a home involves large sums of money and mounds of paperwork. Good communication skills are necessary throughout the entire process of selling and buying a home. There is scheduling appointments for showing and viewing properties, negotiating with other realtors and agents, and communicating with financial institutions and it is essential that the realtor’s communication skills be sharp.

Working with a great realtor can mean the difference of a miserable selling or buying experience or a pleasant and smooth sailing experience. Take the time to research your realtor and make certain that he or she has the qualities listed above.