DEFINITIONS:

A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate agent who is a member of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). A licensed real estate agent in Canada, does not have to be a member of  CREA to practice real estate.

A BROKER has taken the necessary educational courses, and earned a broker's license. Many brokers own their own real estate office and are "brokers of record," with other real estate agents "depositing their license" under the "broker of record". 

Why use a REALTOR®?    Click Here  to Find the Answer to this Question.

HOW TO SELECT THE CORRECT REALTOR®:

Many of the same questions, hesitations and strategies connected with seeking out professional assistance in any field — whether you're looking for a doctor, dentist, lawyer or accountant — come into play when you're selecting a real estate agent. Some people find an agent through a family member or friend. This is often a very reliable approach, since word of mouth advertising is a powerful force, and many times an indicator of the quality of the job performed. But you might not always find the most compatible assistance this way. And in a transaction as important and intensive as buying and selling a home, that can be critical.

A referral from a family member or friend doesn't necessarily guarantee a perfect match. Just think of something as simple as a movie or restaurant recommendation. Your close friends rave about a new Chinese food place downtown — so you check it out. Could this possibly be the same restaurant they were describing? Mediocre service. No chopsticks. Bland flavours. It's the same restaurant. Same cook. Same waiters. Just different perceptions.

Regardless of how you get an agent's name, it might be worth interviewing at least a couple before you make a final decision — or at least arming yourself with some criteria to go over with any agent who has been recommended to you.

A FEW THINGS to LOOK FOR:

If you're looking for an agent to list your home, be wary of anyone who suggests they can get an unreasonably high sales price. An agent might use a high listing price to secure a contract, only to seek a lower price later, after little traffic is generated at the initial price level. Meanwhile, you've lost what can be the most critical time period in selling a home — the first weeks immediately after it's listed.

Check on experience, reputation, education and productivity. As with most professions, experience pays dividends in real estate. Experienced agents know the market and the marketing process. They'll have the best chance of quickly and smoothly helping you to buy or sell your home. This is not necessarily the one who has "Sold the Most" or is "Number One", etc., but someone who, after you have interviewed him or her, has demonstrated to you that they have a thorough understanding of the market place and the fundamentals which drive it, along with an organized approach to listing a property for sale or finding one to buy.

• The number of transactions an agent is handling monthly or yearly is going to give you an indication of how committed the agent is to the profession. Is the agent a part-timer who's just dabbling in real estate sales — or is the agent a full-time professional whose livelihood depends entirely on an ability to successfully and repeatedly close real estate transactions?

• If you're a buyer — does the agent offer buyer agency? More and more buyers are deciding they want full contractual representation on the same level as the seller. Be sure to discuss buyer agency with any agent you're thinking about working with.

• Is the agent part of a national network? This can be especially important if you're selling in one city in preparation of moving to another. Your selling agent can refer you to a professional, compatible agent in your destination city — and keep in close contact with that agent so both your selling and buying efforts are closely coordinated.

• In today's Real Estate Industry, the use of current technology plays a major role in the marketing and administration of a property listed for sale, and in the search for a property to buy. Those REALTORS® who have embraced these new methods and approaches, and use them as tools to enhance client service , are tomorrow's success stories. Be sure however, to filter out the "sizzle" from the "steak": the objective in the final analysis is still to buy or sell a property.

• Ask for references: successful and forthright agents will be happy to provide them.

• And a final point: Does the agent seem primarily interested in sharing expertise and market knowledge in an honest and straightforward manner? Or does the agent seem more interested in telling you what you want to hear — or spend a lot of effort trying to market additional products and services? The worst time to secure the services of a "yes-man" or an agent who seems to have a bit too many irons in the fire is when you're entering a transaction involving something as expensive as your home. You need straightforward, reliable information — even if it's not necessarily flattering regarding the home you're selling — or very encouraging regarding a home you think you might want to buy.

Gary & Candi Grant ... in Touch with the Heartbeat of Real Estate©

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