Benefits Of Choosing A REALTOR®
Home buyers and sellers often ask "What is the difference between a real estate agent and a REALTOR®?" There are a number of important reasons why using a REALTOR® is important for receiving the professional, ethical and responsible service you desire in a real estate transaction.
Many people incorrectly use the term REALTOR® in a generic way to refer to all real estate agents. However, all agents are not REALTORS®. REALTOR® is a trademarked word and should only be used when referring to a member of the local, state and national real estate professional associations.
The term "real estate agent" is a generic term and refers to a sales agent who is responsible to a real estate broker and who is licensed by his or her state real estate commission to assist the broker in the business of buying, selling, exchanging, appraising, and managing property.
A REALTOR® is a real estate professional who subscribes to a strict Code of Ethics and high professional standards. The Code of Ethics contains rules of fairness and honesty that govern conduct and provide access to arbitration and dispute resolution.
Choosing the Right REALTOR®
Consulting a professional REALTOR® in the buying and selling of your most important investment is a wise decision. Spend quality time interviewing several REALTORS® at various firms. The following guidelines may help you to find a REALTOR® who best meets your needs.
- Choose your agent with care. Talk to friends, relatives, or co-workers who have utilized a REALTOR® 's services. What kind of service did they receive? Would they choose that same REALTOR® again? Visit an open house to observe REALTORS® in action and judge their expertise.
- Consider choosing a REALTOR® who holds professional designation.
- Reference the real estate section of your newspaper and local homes magazines to review listings of homes in your price range.
- In speaking with various REALTOR® firms, get a feeling of how well that firm knows the area you wish to explore -- the neighborhood/community its school system and the businesses operating within the vicinity. What is that REALTOR® 's qualifications? What is that REALTOR®'s specialty area? What professional courses or training sessions has he/she recently attended?
If you are interested in researching the purchase or sale of a home, I am excited to help you! You can begin by using the Search Menu above to Search Multiple Listing Service to get an idea of homes available, or by contacting me via email or telephone at 602-332-5564.
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