How to Choose a Realtor

Your real estate agent gets paid the same commission upon sale of your home whether they are good or not. So don’t settle for a ho-hum agent, go for the best.

You don’t find the best realtor by going with the one that everyone in your neighborhood uses. And don’t use a realtor just because they are your friend’s neighbor or because your friend used him/her three years ago. Finding that go-getter realtor isn’t hard because they’ll be easy to spot—everywhere.

Pick your realtor as you would an employee. They will be working for you. If one realtor dominates in your area call them first. Notice how quick or slow their houses in your area sell. Ask to see a listing history which shows number of days on market, asking price and selling price.

Once you’ve selected a few realtors, check up on them. Look them up on Google, Facebook and Twitter. A good realtor will be active, on a professional level. Their postings on Facebook and Twitter should have minimal personal information. Look at the number dates of their postings. Their presence on these types should be professional and current. This tells you that they stay on top of the industry.

Next, look at their company and personal websites, which again should be focused on their business. Take a look at their listings. Are the listings detailed enough to help buyers narrow their choices, too detailed, or too sparse? Look at the listings from a buyer’s perspective.

Then take a few of the listing addresses and type them into Trulia, Zillow, and Craigslist. If there aren’t there it is a big sign that this realtor won’t use all available resources. If they are listed, do they use lots of pictures? Pictures do sell. Also check for a listing on 123mainstreet.com. The more online listings and pictures the more likely that this realtor will get your house sold quickly for the best price.

If the realtor has a huge list of homes for sale find out if they have assistants. You don’t want to pick a realtor who is too busy to give you the attention that you deserve.

It takes a more than a lawn sign to sell a house. And these days the competition on the housing market is abundant. So if you really want to sell your house you need a savvy agent.

Check Your Home Value

I was wandering around on the Coors Credit Union site this weekend and found a hidden little gem. Honestly I can't even remember why my clicking led me to the loan section. But anyway there it was at along the top nav bar.

So if you click this link, you'll be taken to a window that asks you to enter your street address. Then up pops you home value along with similar properties in your neighborhood including the last sale amount, date of sale, age of house, square footage, #bedrooms/baths--typical stuff you'd see on a real estate listing.

You probably know your home value from your spring county assessment. But this quick check can help you assess your loan-to-value and see how area home sales are going. You can also use it to check the value of a home you are interested in purchasing. And you'll be able to see how the price of a home you are thinking about compares to the market.

This tool is quick, handy and right there on your credit union website.

Home Buyers Request Test Drives

Just when I think they've got a Reality TV show for everything I learn of a new one. Yes, I'm a bit behind, but really who can keep up? On TLC's Date My House prospective buyers get to try out the house before making an offer. They might sleep over or even hold a dinner party. Similarly HGTV's Sleep On It let's viewers peek in as prospective buyers spend the night and give a house a try.

But now TV becomes reality as some buyers are making creative requests. It might be as mild as coming for extended showings at different times such as morning, noon, night and weekends. Or they may actually ask to sleep over. It's not unusual for the buyer to make requests for carpet allowances or ask that some fixtures or appliances be included. But as sellers become more desperate the buyers market has the upper hand.

If you're a buyer you might think about some creative ways to get a feel for a house you're considering. If you are a seller don't accept buyer request without thinking it through. If a buyer wants to spend the night you should consult your real estate agent, your insurance company and a lawyer. Anytime you let someone into your home you could open yourself up to risks. A simple contract can help protect you or ward off those that aren't serious.

Desperate times might call for desperate measures but creativity and forethought could make the sale.