Expert: Karyn Foley - 2/4/2009

Question
HI Karyn,  I have had my house on the market for a year and would like to switch realtors.  Can you tell me how to find the best realtor, I have no idea how to know one from the other.  I feel like I might as well throw a dart at the phone book or newspaper!  Can you give me some tips on how to find someone?
Thanks for your time, Gae

Answer
Dear Gae:  Now is a great time to switch.  After a year, you probably need a change.  Unless, of course, you have been ignoring your present realtor's suggestions about staging for showing, reducing the price to be the best on the market not just in competition, and so forth.  You can throw a dart, couldn't hurt, but in addition to that, ask references from people in your neighborhood who have bought and sold in the last year or two.  Also, call the person who represents a majority of the successfully sold homes, call the company whose signs you see frequently, and go around to Sunday public open houses and speak to as many of the different agents as possible.  Prepare a written list of questions you need to have answered, and ask them of the agents when you pick several of them that you wish to interview.  Ask the questions at the individual interviews, and write down the answers.  When you have interviewed several agents, there are always a couple with whom you feel "simpatico". Id you need to know more agents, when you call the various real estate offices, ask the office manager or office owner for the agent they feel would best represent you in your area.  Zero in on these, and your gut instinct will lead the way.  Sign up for six months to show commitment, but make certain that your contract gives you, the seller, the unilateral right to cancel in three or four months.  Escape clauses are always a good idea.  Keep in mind that the economy is probably the worst it has been in a couple of decades, and that the problems are international not local.  Don't blame the messenger (the agent) if the house does not sell because you have not budged with your pricing schedule.  For the right price, everything gets sold.  You will not be "giving it away"; it is only worth what a buyer will pay for something for which amount you are willing to sell.  After you pick your agent, do your own homework on a continuous basis by still visiting open houses. track what has sold in your neighborhood, and read every important paper in town.  PS  When you interview agents, have them do a market analysis on your property, they should all be in sync with one another.  Throw out the agent who comes in much higher than the others as they simply want to induce you to sell.  Then, throw out the agent who comes in way too much lower than the majority, as they would rather not work hard enough to sell it for a fair value.  Good luck and let me know how you fare!  Karyn Foley