By Nathan Walldorf, ABR, GREEN, GRI, SFR, e-Pro
President, Greater Chattanooga Association of REALTORS®
Over the years, I’ve seen several qualities in the industry that define a good REALTOR®. In sharing these traits with you, I’ve also included research from the National Association of REALTORS® to help you find the right REALTOR® for your specific needs. As you navigate the waters of selling and buying property, seek out these three characteristics:
1. Find a REALTOR® who is conscientious. Dictionary.com defines “conscientious” as “governed by conscience; controlled by or done according to one’s inner sense of what is right; principled” and as “careful and painstaking; particular; meticulous; and scrupulous.” Choose a REALTOR® who is driven by doing the right thing. You need a REALTOR® who will take note of the information you need to make a real estate buying or selling decision. If he/she does not have answers to your questions readily available, they should get back to you with that information in a timely manner. It is not always the REALTOR® who has “all the answers” that is the best REALTOR®, but the REALTOR® who listens to you and finds the answers you need.
2. Find a REALTOR® who has taken the time to get educated. Look for a REALTOR® who is well versed in the contract forms so he/she can guide you when negotiating an offer. Your agent needs to know how to represent your best interests and negotiate on your behalf. Finally, your agent needs to know how to get you from contract to closing. Most REALTORS® have sold more homes in a few years than you will buy in a lifetime – they should know how to lead you well in a real estate transaction.
3. Find a REALTOR® who has sold homes in your area of interest. Real estate is local. Yet, a real estate license enables the licensee to conduct business anywhere in the state. GCAR’s market encompasses two Tennessee and three Georgia counties. Thus, you may not want the REALTOR® who lives an hour away from the property of interest. While this geographical distance is more common in commercial transactions, for residential transactions I recommend a REALTOR® who has knowledge of and access to data relevant to the property in question. A REALTOR®’s experience and expertise in this regard will better equip them to guide you in evaluating the property you’re buying or selling. Knowing people who live in the area where you want to buy or sell never hurts either.
I hope this list of what to look for in a REALTOR® is helpful to you as you consider buying or selling real estate.