Questions to Ask When Choosing a REALTOR^Ò

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

• My Answer: I have been in the real estate business since 2003 and this year it has become my full time job.

2. What designations do you hold? (Designations, such as GRI and CRS^Ò, which require that real estate professionals take additional, specialized real estate training, are held by only about one-quarter of real estate practitioners.)

• My Answer: I am currently working on my GRI classes. It is my goal to have my GRI classes completed and have my designation by November 2006. Each required class is only offered once a year in the Nashville area therefore making it a timely achievement.

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

• My Answer:  Last year working part time (I also did other side jobs such as Network Administrator, Web Site designs, new phone system wiring & installation as well as business consultations for friends) I sold a total of 16 properties (nine homes, five parcels of raw land and two commercial properties). My goal for this year is to more than triple my sales and add a focus on new listings by concentrating my time to Real Estate and my own marketing. The company sold over 100 properties with two Realtors all year and three more joining the team ranging from the middle of the year to the end of the year.

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

• My Answer:  I only had a few listings last year as I was working only part time and the time that I did put into it was primarily focused on Buyers rather than getting listings. The two of my own listings that I sold were on the market for an average of 106.5 days (7 acres raw land sold in 29 days and a river home w/acreage sold in 184 days). This year working Real Estate full time I intend to dramatically increase my listing presence as well as my selling presence.

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

• My Answer: Averaged out to approximately $3,560 under listing price. In this rural area there is quite a variation (some sellers held out for full price, some were very negotiable and others negotiated very little).

6. What types of specific marketing systems and approaches will you use to sell my home? (Look for someone who has aggressive, innovative approaches, not just someone who’s going to put a sign in the yard and hope for the best.)

• My Answer:

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

• My Answer: It depends on your decision after a lengthy discussion and explanation of each type of agency and responsibilities. I can exclusively represent you and or I can perform my duties as described in a disclosed dual agency agreement.

8. Can you recommend service providers who can assist me in obtaining a mortgage, making repairs on my home, and other things I need done? (Keep in mind here that real estate professionals should generally recommend more than one provider and should tell you if they receive any compensation from any provider.)

• My Answer: Yes, in fact there is a list of mortgage lenders, contractors, utility companies, accommodations, restaurants and other businesses located here on my web site. The basic lists that I have compiled for you are by no means a complete list. However, the majority were taken from the yellow pages or information received at conventions and seminars that I have attended.

• My site is designed to provide fair exposure of each business as I provide business name, address and phone number free of charge (although I maintain the right to refuse or remove certain businesses should I feel that they will not or do not provide satisfactory services to my clients and customers). I will be charging for additional design and display beyond that mentioned above, once I finish getting my site laid out and functioning in the manner I desire. Other than that, I receive no compensation in any manner from any of those who are listed in my helpful business lists or lists of lenders.

9. What type of support and supervision does your brokerage office provide to you? (Having resources, such as in-house support staff, access to a real estate attorney, or assistance with technology, can help a real estate professional sell your home.)

• My Answer: At No.1 Quality Realty we have administrative assistants who are responsible for answering and directing the phone calls, entering listings and maintaining listing information on the various Multiple Listing Systems that we are associated with, entering and maintaining your listing on our company and other specific company web sites, maintaining and printing off our company listing booklet as well as numerous other responsibilities that their individual job descriptions may require.

• As a Network Administrator, Web Site Designer and a member of the Upper Cumberland Association of Realtors MLS & Technology Committees, I am always updating myself through various methods (classes, internet, related trade magazines, etc.) on technology and marketing strategies. I then provide information to the Realtors and Staff at No.1 Quality Realty as needed for them to perform their duties.

10. What’s your business philosophy? (While there’s no right answer to this question, the response will help you assess what’s important to the real estate practitioner—fast sales, service, etc.—and determine how closely the practitioner’s goals and business emphasis mesh with your own.)

• My Answer:

11. How will you keep me informed about the progress of my transaction? How frequently? Using what media? (Again, this is not a question with a correct answer, but that one reflects your desires. Do you want updates twice a week or don’t want to be bothered unless there’s a hot prospect? Do you prefer phone, e-mail, or a personal visit?)

• My Answer:

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

• My Answer: Yes and No, I am not trying to avoid the question, instead I am looking out for the privacy and confidentiality of my clients. I have provided a Testimonials page on my web site for your review. If the parties that have provided that information provide their contact information with their testimonial it is not displayed along with their testimonial, however I will provide it to those who are looking for a reference. I do not display their contact information due to the overwhelming amount of spammers that are searching sites just to obtain e-mails and personal information. I have just started requesting each client or customer provide a testimonial for display.