Questions to ask when choosing a REALTOR®

  1. How long have you worked in residential real estate sales? Is this your full-time job?
    Note: While experience is no guarantee of skill, real estate, like many other professions, is mostly learned on the job.

  2. What professional designations do you hold?
    Note: Designations such as GRI (Graduate, REALTOR® Institute) and CRS (Certified Residential Specialist), which require that agents take additional specialized training, are held by only about one-quarter of real estate practitioners.

  3. How many homes did you and your company sell last year?

  4. How many days did it take you to sell the average home? How did that compare to the overall market?

  5. How close to the initial asking price of the homes you sold were the final sale prices?

  6. What marketing tools and strategies will you use to sell my home?
    Note: Look for someone who has aggressive, innovative approaches with a variety of tools to reach a wide range of potential buyers.

  7. Will you represent me exclusively, or will you represent both the buyer and the seller in the transaction?
    Note: While it is usually legal to represent both parties in a transaction, it is important to understand where the agent’s obligations lie. A good agent will explain the agency relationship to you and describe the rights of each party. It is also possible to insist that the agent represent you exclusively.

  8. Can you recommend service providers who can assist me in obtaining a mortgage, making repairs to my home and other things I need done?
    Note: REALTORS® should recommend more than one provider and should tell you if they receive any compensation from any provider.

  9. What type of support and supervision does your brokerage office provide to you?
    Note: Resources such as inhouse support staff, access to a real estate attorney or assistance with technology can help a REALTOR® sell your home.

  10. Describe your business philosophy.
    Note: While there’s no right answer to this question, the response will help you assess what’s important to the agent – fast sales, service, etc. – and determine how closely the agent’s philosophy meshes with your own.

  11. How will you keep me informed about the progress of my transaction?
    Note: Do you want daily updates or don’t want to be bothered unless there is a hot prospect? Do you prefer phone, e-mail, text message or a personal visit?

  12. Could you give me the names and contact information of your three most recent clients?

Portions of this article reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the National Association of REALTORS®. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

Where to find a REALTOR®

Go to www.realtor.com – Click the Find a REALTOR® icon. On the page that appears, consumers can conduct a broad search of REALTORS® by entering a particular city and state. Consumers can also customize their results by searching for a particular REALTOR®’s name, neighborhood, office or even keywords such as bilingual, retirement or relocation that will help identify REALTORS® who focus on specific consumer needs.

Click Find a REALTOR® to search for Mississippi REALTORS® by office, last name or city.

Contact the local board of REALTORS® in your area. Visit www.msrealtors.org for a complete listing of local boards of REALTORS® throughout the state.
 

REALTORS® follow a strict Code of Ethics

The NAR Code of Ethics establishes time-honored and baseline principles that come from the collective experiences of REALTORS® since first established in 1913. The principles can be loosely defined as:

  • Loyalty to clients
  • Fiduciary (legal) duty to clients
  • Cooperation with competitors
  • Truthfulness in statements and advertising
  • Non-interference in exclusive relationships other REALTORS® have with their clients.

Consumers can review the National Association of REALTORS®’ Code of Ethics in its entirety by visiting www.realtor.org and searching “REALTOR® Code of Ethics.”
 
[ Contact Us ]   [ Request Printed Version ] [ Download PDF Version ]
Real Estate 4•1•1 is an official publication of the Mississippi Association of REALTORS®
and is Copyright© 2008 by The Mississippi Association of REALTORS®.
 
The Mississippi Association of REALTORS® is the business advocate for Mississippi real estate professionals, representing more than 6,800 residential and commercial real estate professionals active in all phases of brokerage, development, property management and appraisal.
Real Estate 4•1•1 does not establish due diligence on authors and advertisers and cannot guarantee that their writings or claims are correct or suitable. Views and advertising contained in Real Estate 4•1•1 are not necessarily endorsed by the Mississippi Association of REALTORS®. The information contained within should not be construed as a recommendation for any course of action regarding financial, legal or accounting matters by the Mississippi Association of REALTORS®, Real Estate 4•1•1 or its authors.