Danielle's blog

Looking for a Realtor is certainly a difficult job! So many Realtors are soliciting one's business. The choices are endless and different people use different criteria to define the perfect match. But the question is what is a perfect match ?: Realtor-home, or Realtor-client?

Very often buyers and sellers gravitate towards a Realtor that seems to match their character, their background, their ideas etc.... creating a spontanious Realtor-client relationship that might along the way lead to dissapointments and frustration. The business relationship sours due to shallow assumptions a clients makes when they meet the potential Realtor, delayed results may occur due to unspoken expectations between the parties, or simple lack of communication between the parties, who based their relationship on first impressions and hopes.

In contrast some Buyers and sellers gravitate towards the "area expert" or "Neighborhood specialist". They look for the "one that dominates the market there".
The stellar results of a Realtor in a certain area certainly attract the potential client, because production is quatifyable, and figures do  not lie. They are verifyable, and tangible.

So what is one to do, when faced with several thousand potential Realtors who are competing for one's business? What are the criteria to go by, what are the signs that would create this elusive win-win relationship that everyone seems to aspire for?

The answer is certainly not molded in a list of criteria on a check list. The answer is to be found  through answers to some basic questions that every potential client has the right to ask and expect a direct, honest , truthfull answers to.

Do not be afraid to ask. For most clients, a Realtor will be handling the biggest investment in one's lifetime. It is an honor and a privilege to be chosen.

below you will find some questions that go beyond the "what is your marketing plan" or "will you show us all the homes available?" questions. (All realtors have a marketing plan... And all Realtors can open doors for you to see homes).

- What can I expect from you as my Realtor representing my best interest?
- What Do you expect from me as your client?
- how can i reach you? how do you communicate?
- What if you go on vacation?
- Do you get payed for refering other people to me?
- Have you ever been fired by a client? Why? Did you ever fire a client?
- What kind of information can you provide after we close?
- What is your opinion about so-and-so (a gossiping Realtor, will gossip about you)
- What should i hire you, not xyz? ( a Realtor needs to provide value in what and how they do things. If they don't know their  own value proposition, how can a client guess it and see value in using their services?)
- Tell me a little about you.
- I need to think about it, pray about it, sleep on it, consult my family....etc... Do you mind?

Answers to these questions, will provide the potential clients with a wealth of information about the abilities, depth, knowledge, experience and honesty of a Realtor. Cold numbers and personal affinities, will converge in one's mind to create a more acurate measure of the Realtor. If we need to rephrase, I would say in few words that your Realtor needs to think, act, behave and aproach busines as a Consultant, not as a sales person... your Realtor should be after building a relationship, not the immediate deal, and most importanly inspire confidence and mutual trust... 

Choose wisely!