Our intent is not to give a sales pitch about why consumers should retain representation. At our practice, we are completely confident in the level of value that we bring to our clients and our marketplace. When our clients are able to measure the benefits of representation through a significant financial gain, or through an intangible, such as the successful preservation, or better yet, the re-establishment of an important family relationship, it is gratifying. It also reinforces our view of this work as a vocation, rather than a job.

With changes to the current models and with the rise in prices and competition, it’s now more important than ever to retain an advisor with the communication and negotiation skills needed to win, and for the person to know exactly what they are doing.

What Minimum Standards Should I Look For?

Formal education or certification is required for almost every profession. Teachers, nurses, accountants and other professionals hold degrees and pass rigorous testing. Skilled trades people, such as plumbers and electricians, must complete at least a two year apprenticeship program to become fully qualified in their field. Why wouldn’t you look for the same minimums?

Since the bar to become licensed in residential real estate is 40 hours of classroom work and the successful completion of an exam, and since our compensation model is commission based, it is easy to see why our profession is not very widely respected. It is also why, at the very least, it is essential to choose a professional with a robust level of experience.

A true real estate professional will bring their existing level of education (like college or trade degrees) to the real estate business knowing full well that these knowledge sets are seldom applicable. An individual worthy of being paid for their real estate expertise must also be one who has gained it through their own initiative. Educational choices are expensive and many are rigorous and these specific areas of study, along with subsequent practice experience, create knowledge sets that are unique to the individual practitioner. The only way to discover whether this individual is the right fit for your needs is to get to know them and their qualifications through the interview process.

• Be able to create conditions that can lead to competing offers that maximize the end sales price, and ultimately close.

• In possession of the expertise to support sales price using comparable sales that meet professional appraisal standards.

• Have intuition and “street smarts.” They should be able to recognize when something does not right and stop processes, such as wire transfer, immediately.

• Have access the advanced background check tools know how to be an effective first line of defense against fraud and theft.

• Be technically able to utilize the full range of online resources to ensure full exposure and efficient delivery of time sensitive documents.

What Should I Expect From a Professional Advisor?

Is Residential Representation Really Necessary?

The answer to this question depends upon who you ask. Some say that real estate agents are not good for much at all, while others swear that they wouldn’t have made it through the sale or acquisition of their property without the knowledge, experience and support of an advisor they could trust. You’ll need to decide for yourself.

Although the real estate industry is derided for its low bar to entry, there are actually many exceptionally well educated and experienced real estate professionals that bring a great deal of value to the table every day. There are many others that don’t.

You should expect your professional representative to:

• Be an excellent communicator, relator, relationship builder and to be a master of inquiry.

• Work well with others, know when to apply subtle, ethical pressure and be able to stay in control of his/her emotions when conversations become strained.

• Have a good sense of humor and have a knowing that a deal is seldom over, even when it looks like it is.

• Excel at managing complex personalities, including fellow practitioners, service providers and local municipal officials.

These are just some of the attributes you would be wise to look for in your interview process. Consumers hire professional advisors for what the person knows, who they know, how they communicate and for their experiences of having been there many times before. The quality of the results are almost always dependent upon hiring the right individual.