Know Your Agent

With inventory tightening and the number of homes sold down compared to this time last year, we are hearing about questionable tactics used on homeowners by local Agents. For most, Buying or Selling a home will be the largest financial transaction that will take place in a lifetime. Finding the right Agent can save you thousands of dollars and ensure that your best interest is being protected.

International Buyer Access
Claims of being able to attract International Buyers or having access to exclusive International Listing Services is a recent tactic we have seen used to acquire listings. Traditionally, International Buyers seek out the services of state-side, local agents when shopping for homes in the area as opposed to a limited, subscription-based Listing Service that may only include a fraction of actual local inventory. Additionally, any Agent can pay a small fee to IMLS to list your home Internationally and get a paid-for International designation that requires NO experience or track record.

Cold Calling and ROBO Calls
Recently, Agents have been aggressively cold calling homeowners, claiming to have a buyer interested in their home. Once the homeowner and Agent meet, the homeowner learns there is no buyer ready to make an offer and the Agent is simply attempting to solicit business.

Investors and Wholesalers
Currently, distressed property inventory is extremely low and investors and wholesale buyers are aggressively seeking ways to find homes. The distressed property purchase prices we are seeing in our Local Community appear to be well below fair market value.

We are also hearing of deceptive contracts used to target the elderly and those facing hardship. In one particular case, a member of our community sold their home to an investor and was still trying to locate the proceeds of the sale months after the closing.

Do You Know Your Agent?

Below are just a few things to look for in a Local Agent that can bring you the knowledge and experience you need when trying to Buy or Sell a home.

Track Record ~ How many homes did the Agent SELL in your local market during the last year? How many failed listings did the Agent have? It’s one thing to List a home, but the track record in getting listings SOLD is what matters.

Reputation ~ Check out reviews on Zillow, Google, Facebook and other online resources. Past clients willing to endorse an Agent is a good starting point. Even better, ask the Agent for references from 3-4 of the most recent clients with whom the Agent has closed a transaction.

Accreditations and Education ~ Some Agents spend a great deal of time getting accredited/certified through extended education programs in a variety of areas that may be of value: New Home Construction, Luxury Home Market, Accredited Buyers Representative, and Short Sales and Foreclosures are just a few that go above and beyond the basic Agent License.

Marketing ~ Presentations can be deceiving. When selling your home, look for Agents that invest in marketing their listings and do not simply put a sign in the yard, enter into a multiple listing service and walk away. When buying a home, buyers should look for an Agent that is truly dedicated to the task full-time and can be creative in finding that next dream home.

Our team at Robin Martin & Associates cares about our community and its residents and we want to make sure that your real estate journey is an enjoyable one! If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in the near future, give us a call today at 678.665.0202.