QUOTE (Dan_Eisenhauer @ Dec 19 2008, 01:33 AM) How do you find a good Realtor? That is a great question.
Without putting down all of the REIN members who are Realtors, I doubt every REIN member Realtor is a great Realtor. My suggestion is that you ask REIN members in your area who they are using. Ask people in your community who is one of the leading Realtors in your town. Go to various offices and ask to speak to the manager. Explain why you are there and find out who he/she thinks is an up and coming star in that office.
You should be able to develop a list of three to five possibilities. Invite each to lunch... at your expense... as you will be interviewing them, and they may not get the job. Tell them about your current position, especially if you are new at this game. Talk about your goals. Ask them what they will do for you, and how they work with their clients. Above all, listen to what questions he/she asks about you and your goals. If there are no questions, then I suggest you say, "You`re Fired!"
You may have concerns that a Realtor may not want to work with you if you are new at the game. Nonsense! If you are new, have no investments now, be honest. But also be honest about your plans. Any Realtor would love to work with someone who they think is going to buy multiple properties through them over a period of years.
Pick a person with whom you feel very comfortable, who is willing to work for you, who will give you advice, who would treat you as if you are their family member. No matter how good a Realtor is, if you do not feel a warm and fuzzy feeling when with that person, that relationship probably will not work. Do you get a feeling that they will be working for you, and not themselves. (My current Realtor told me a price I was considering recently was too high. You want your Realtor to tell you that.)
As a Realtor, four years ago I did a deal with another Realtor whose income may be in 7 figures... certainly well into the high 6 figures. He was arrogant, snotty, cold, and full of himself because of his income and his self perceived position in the community. He showed no interest in me or my client. I saw him numerous times after that deal, and he had no idea who I was. He is one person who I will never call to sell my property... or to buy one either, for that matter. Genuine warmth is important. I have dealt with many genuinely warm and caring Realtors over the years.
I suggested you talk with up and coming stars. They are showing a keen interest in the business. Their business is still growing, and they have not become jaded by having business fall into their laps, like my arrogant friend. They are still open to new ideas and concepts, and chances are that you will be introducing them to investment ideas that they have not been aware of before.
Thanks for all the feed back..
I must say i have had a Realtor that was an up and coming start (well i would not go that far). But he Got arrogant really fast less then a year in the business and was bragging that he was the best in the city.. I just shook my head and hoped that his "He is the greatest in town", speach was not one he shares with all his clients. I think that the slower times will make some of the new agents realize that it is not always list a house on monday and sell it on wednesday. I think i will try the interview thing, sounds like a great idea..
Thanks again
Eric
