A significant part of each and every home decision involves the selection of the real estate professionals you will select to help you. Perhaps the most pivotal of these decisions is your selection of a real estate agent to market your existing home or assist you in the purchase of your new one.
Likely the first question you are going to ask is "What is the best way to find a real estate agent?" Well, the answer to that question is very simple…anywhere! If all you are looking for is a real estate agent you have to look no further than the closest bus bench or in your mailbox where you will find the name of one quite quickly. The proper question should really be "How do I hire a real estate agent who will meet my buying and/or selling needs in the most effective way to maximize my returns?"
This question might seem overly complex but think about it for one minute and how it forces you to change how you think of the real estate agent hiring process. The first question simply creates a situation where you have no control over the hiring process and, ultimately, over how your home needs are met. On the other hand, the second question gives you the control over the entire process by making you and the real estate agent you hire more focused on the real task… meeting your needs!
Now that we've established the first step, where do you go now? How do you start finding real estate agents for your area? There are plenty of places to look from local advertisements to referrals from friends to simply using the phone book. But, since you are already on the Internet it is likely that you will use the World Wide Web as your starting point. Here's the key, make yourself comfortable, eliminate all external distractions (lock the dog in the bathroom and have the kids babysat) and allocate at least 2 - 3 hours to this process.
The first place to look on the Internet is in the real estate directories. Directories provide you an excellent opportunity to check out a wide range of real estate agents in a very short period of time. Look for directories that are broken down on a geographic basis so that you can narrow your search as fast as possible. Remember, time is on your side but time is also money so doing a job efficiently and quickly is more preferable than doing it slowly because two things happen: you lose focus on the task at hand and you become more susceptible to "instant gratification" (picking any Realtor just to get through the process).
Costa Rica Real Estates by CostaRicanDeals.com. Volcanoes, butterfly gardens, adventure tours, and more await you in Costa Rica away from the rat-race of life. Of course, there's plenty of space to just sit and relax too! Costa Rica's private beaches beckon you. Adventures will lure you. But, the beauty of the land will forever captivate you. Just make you wish list, contact us, and find your dream real estate in Costa Rica...
Once you find the real estate agents in your area, you should then spend time reviewing their descriptions and information. A website description is a useful tool in the initial instance for identifying potential prospects. What is it that the real estate agent is telling you…are they a condo expert? Are they solely a Buyer's Representative? If you need a home sales expert neither of these people will be of assistance to you so why waste your time and theirs? After you have gone through the various descriptions and narrowed your list, it is time to start visiting the Websites.
Here is another vital point… make sure that you have a pen and paper ready to write down the information you will want to glean from these Realtors. Do not rely on your bookmarks to carry you through this part of the exercise. Nothing can replace your initial impression of a real estate agent so if it isn't written down how will you remember it 2 or 3 days later?
What is it you are looking for in a real estate agent's website? Do graphics matter? What about fonts? The answer of course is ABSOLUTELY NOT except where they hinder your ability to get information from the Site! Unfortunately the Internet is not an equal playing field since not all people can afford or have access to the knowledge and skills to produce $10,000 websites. The important factor is not the form…it is the SUBSTANCE! Do not be turned off by bad graphics and goofy looking fonts, look beyond the style of the information and look to the content. Here are the questions you need to ask:
- Is there information here that can help me make a reasoned decision about this real estate agent and their services?
- Does the real estate agent provide me some of the tools and information I will ultimately need to buy and sell my home?
- Is the information up to date or is it dated?
- Can I contact this person easily?
- Do my property needs fit the profile of this Realtor?
- Do I honestly think that this real estate agent can provide the level of service I need at this time?
If the real estate agent answers those questions for you or provides an avenue to obtain the answers through easy-to-use forms, etc. then you have just found a real estate agent who passes your first screening. Now it is time to find out whether this real estate agent is the one most likely to be of the most use to you.
(Continued in Part 2 of this series)
Previous Article Next Article
Back
