Whenever someone calls me and asks about a property, they are trusting me without even know it. They assume I am worthy of working with. When I answer the phone, I assume the same thing about them, but it's my job to do some digging to make sure. That is why I ask them questions about their goals, ability to move forward, timing, and other questions to find out if I am able to help. One of the most common questions I always ask is, "Do you already have a Realtor you're working with?" Yes, I need to know if they already have an agent so I don't violate the Realtor code of ethics, but it also allows me to explain the value of having a realtor in general. I love being your Realtor and representing you as we reach your goals together, but the reality is not everyone will use Dallas Hill, so I tell people my personal opinion is, you don't have to use me, and it's okay if you choose not to, but please make sure you do use a "Good Realtor". With that introduction in mind, lets talk about a few simple things to look for in a good realtor.
1) Timeliness - You need someone who is prompt in a fast market and who gets back to you within 24 hours or less. I try to respond to all calls, texts, and emails within 8 hours. You also need someone who can keep you on track of your deadlines throughout the transaction. Missing contingency windows should never happen but I have seen agents who drop the ball all the time on contract deadlines. Anyone who can't help you follow the contract should not get paid to represent you.
2) Effectiveness - It is critical to use an agent who knows the forms, knows the markets, knows the processes, and who can effectively put deals together and make your goals become a reality. This includes having good people skills, knowing how to negotiate, and make things work when it gets tough and everyone already feels stretched. This often means putting personal profits aside for the good of everyone else.
3) Self Control - Too often ego and pride can prevent a deal from happening because the agents involved take things too personal, get too impatient, or become emotional about a deal rather than stepping back and doing what their client needs them to do. Self control is so important because clients need someone who listens and makes good decisions without ego or pride getting in the way in order to win tough negotiations.
4) Professionalism - Anyone able to call themselves a professional should without excuse be able to demonstrate that they have the knowledge and skill to do a good job, prove they care about you, and be reliable with your trust. If you can't trust them, or they don't know they job, or if they don't truly care about you, then that person is not the professional you need and you need someone else.
5) Valuable - Every Realtor wants your business because they want to make money. Everyone in life is trying to make a living and some people are better at what they do for a living than others. Ultimately, when you get the the closing table and you see your settlement statement, the real answer to the question about rather or not you got a good realtor lies in rather your not you feel that person earned their pay. I have dozens of clients every year express deep appreciation for my efforts and thank me for earning my compensation. This can be hard to really anticipate ahead of time, but if you find a realtor who already offers you the preceding 4 things, there's a good chance you will already know and see the value of working with them.
In closing I strive to always maintain the highest standards when it comes to all of these important characteristics. I offer my clients access to my personal time, knowledge, professionalism, character, and value. When you team up with Dallas Hill, you will see by example what a "Good Realtor" does and how hard your agent should work for you. That is my promise to all my clients.