Lacy Rasmussen is an expert real estate professional with Presidio Real Estate. She works hard on a goal to make it easy and stress-free for her client's to buy or sell a home. “Being a real estate professional means not only do I work for my client but I work with them. My client’s best interests come first, 100% of the time. My day to day business is centered around my core values and a high level of customer service”, says Lacy Rasmussen, Presidio Real Estate.
There are many ways by which real estate agents promote themselves, such as yard signs, online ads, direct-mail postcards, and even sponsored public benches. So, cutting through the advertising hype and finding the right agent can be tough. “We don’t have the information (about real estate agents) that we have about other service professionals,” says Stephen Brobeck, executive director of the Consumer Federation of America. However, there are a few other ways to size up an agent’s record and potential regardless of whether the customer is buying or selling a home.
Rasmussen has been working in the industry for quite some time now and she has compiled ten rules people can follow for finding a reliable real estate agent, which is suggested by none other than leading real estate professionals in the industry.
1. Choose the Person, Not The Experience
“I am a firm believer in choosing an agent who works for you and with you. Don't choose an agent based solely on experience. Choose someone relatable and real. Choose for you, not for the house. Choose someone good at talking and negotiating” - Kevin Taylor, Sand to City Real Estate Team.
2. Find Someone Who Has Your Best Interests At Heart
Ask yourself, "Does my real estate agent have my best interests at heart?" Be honest and transparent about what you’re looking for, and if an agent isn’t bringing you the right options, it’s likely they aren’t looking for houses for you but rather to benefit themselves. Ask questions upfront and don’t be afraid to move on to someone else if the relationship doesn’t feel right. - Joshua Hunt, TRELORA.
3. Look For Strong Core Values
“Core values are important because you want to work with someone that plays by the same rules you do. For example, if you are an honest person who tells the truth, would you not want someone to tell the truth to you?” - Chris Ryan, Luxury Lifestyles Group / RE/MAX Crest Realty Westside
4. Look for a Personality Match
"Regardless of whether you're a buyer or a seller, you'll be spending a lot of time with your Realtor and it should be someone you feel compatible and comfortable with," says Roll.
5. Make Sure They Offer Adequate Support
“Most agents work with several clients at a time. The logistics of buying/selling a home are complicated, and it's easy to miss something or fall short without a support staff”. - Will Featherstone, Featherstone & Co.
6. Agree on Expectations
“If you're selling a house, ask your agent to put together a written marketing plan detailing the steps they will take to sell your home. If you're buying a home, make sure you know how often your agent will supply you with listings, how many houses you can expect to see in a week, etc.
7. Don't Let an Agent "Buy Your Listing"
“If one agent says he or she can sell your house for substantially more money than the other agents quoted you, they're probably telling you what they think you want to hear in order to get your listing. Statistics show that properties which are over-priced when they are listed stay on the market longer and sell for less than if they had been properly priced from the start," says AHA's Roll.
8. Check for license and disciplinary actions
The states license and discipline real estate agents so one can check with their state’s regulatory body to find out whether an agent is licensed and or has any disciplinary actions or complaints.
9. Scour The Web For Info
“Just because you have a friend who has a friend who knows an agent doesn't mean you should necessarily work with this person. If you are considering an agent, Google them. Check their website. Interview them. We are lucky to live in an age when there is so much information at our disposal, so use your resources”. - Elizabeth Ann Stribling-Kivlan, stribling.com
10. Gauge the agent’s knowledge of the area
“A good agent should know about other properties that are available in the area”, Irwin says. “Mention a house in your area that recently sold or is for sale.If the agent knows the property and can give you a few details or is able to lookup the details, that means he or she really knows your area, he says. You want someone like that, who’s on top of the market.”
More information on Lacy Rasmussen can be found on her website.
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/embed/yHotd8b5YKM
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Company Name: Presidio Real Estate
Contact Person: Press Executive
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Country: United States
Website: www.athomewithlacy.com
