Many people dealing with the home market do not realize there is a difference between a real estate agent and a Realtor. Both must go through the same education and testing process to receive a state license, but after they receive the license is where the difference comes in. A real estate agent will go off on their own, while a Realtor will join an association. Being in the association gives Realtors a better chance at showing your home more often, showing you a wider variety of homes that fit your guidelines, and will give you additional benefits a plain old real estate agent can not.
Every Realtor out there joins the National Association of Realtors, which means they subscribe to the associations strict ethical code. Your Realtor will have access to multiple listing services, and will be able to get you information about tons of houses for sale. Realtors follow this code, which means they put your interests above others, will obey your instructions, and will always keep you personal information confidential. Along with that, they must account to you for all money involved, and they must report any useful information back to you in a timely fashion.
A knowledgeable Realtor can help you open up new avenues for buying or selling a home, and has the experience to help you avoid the most common pitfalls for new buyers or sellers. They know where the best homes for your situation are likely to be, or the best buyers for the home you’d like to put on the market. They have more experience and are held to more requirements than other types of agents. This is why it is such a smart idea to insist on choosing a Realtor to help you with buying or selling your home, instead of any other real estate agent.
Its also a good idea to ask a few questions. Make sure your Realtor has an active license in good standing, and make certain he or she belongs to the local MLS, or multiple listing service. Ideally, your Realtors full time career should be real estate, so you’ll be able to know that you’re in good, dedicated hands. Find out if the agent is representing you, or the other party in the deal. The person that’s being represented is the person whose interests the Realtor will be prioritizing. You want it to be you, so try to find a good buyers agent early on.
Find out how your Realtor will help you accomplish your goals before you commit. Ideally, he or she should plan to show you a list of carefully chosen homes that meet your requirements, or bring appropriate buyers to the home you want to sell. Its your Realtors experience and ability to choose homes and potential buyers that offer you the biggest benefit. Choose carefully, and you’ll have a much easier time selling. Its worth the time to find a good Realtor.
