If you have been in the real estate business long,
or even if you’ve just started – there is a good chance you have heard the name
Chad Goldwasser. As one of the most prolific REALTORS® of our time, Chad has
overcome so many obstacles despite being involved in the industry in the heart
of the housing market crash several years ago.
Yet he stands at the pinnacle of success and has no
inhibitions about sharing it with the world. His rich history with countless
experiences that lend him the honor of an industry-wide well known institution
that he is today, is rife with awards and accomplishments. But his most
acclaimed accomplishment, perhaps, is his penchant for quality customer
service.
At Briley Homes, we want to surround ourselves with
people just like Chad Goldwasser, that’s why we invited him for an event where
he spoke to 250 agents about the quality of life and how you can constantly
strive to do better. We like to be among those that push us to the maximum
potential of success – and beyond.
Not only does it better the lives of our agents but
also our clients and their families as well. See what Chad is all about on his website. You will be blown away.
And of course if you’d like to talk to us about
real estate here in Omaha – contact any of us at Briley Homes. We look forward
to talking with you!
As
you embark upon what will be one of the most important transactions of
your life – whether buying or selling a home – you should be absolutely
certain that you are happy with the real estate agent you have hired to
help you manage it.
To
help you with this all-important hiring process, here are ten important
questions to ask an agent before you decide on whether or not to hire
them:
Question #1
How Close Do You Get in Sale Price Related to Asking Price?
It
is important to ask for this information as it relates to the past 60
days. Given that many agents are not that active in the market, you
would be best served to obtain the most recent information possible. As
a seller, your agent’s ability to come close to the asking price is a
strong attribute and can mean a difference of thousands of dollars in
your transaction.
Question #2
How Many Days on Average Does It Take You To Sell a Home?
What’s the average number of days on the marketfor
properties listed by your prospective agent? Since this statistic can
reach as high as six to nine months and in some cases and as much as a
year, it is important to ask how your prospective agent ranks on the
scale.
Question #3
What is the Rate of Homes Sold on a Monthly Basis?
Knowing the absorption rateof
homes similar to yours that are on the market allows valuable insight
as to how the market is performing for your particular needs. Not only
does it give sellers a glimpse into the system and how it would
translate to their own sale but it also presents a broader view of the
entire market in general.
Question #4
What Do You Do Differently To Get Homes Sold?
Especially
with the current trying economic times, many agents have been faced
with adversities trying to sell the homes on their list. One of the
best ways to learn whether your agent is a self-starter is to find out
what they have done in the past when they were unable to successfully
sell homes. Ask why the agent feels the home(s) did not sell and then
find out what they are doing differently to get them sold.
Question #5
What Percentage of Deals Do You Represent the Buyer Versus Seller?
Some
agents work primarily with sellers while others work mostly with buyers
and still others are experienced with dual-agency deals. Depending on
your needs, you will benefit from an agent that specializes in one of
the two. It is important to ask which side of the fence your
prospective agent tends to represent.
Questions #6
How Many Homes Did You Sell Last Year?
Nothing
speaks louder than numbers. A very important statistic, ask what the
total number of homes sold last year was and if possible try to get a
more long-term picture of the agent’s performance in this regard. You
can also ask for a month-to-month breakdown to see if there are certain
stronger months.
Questions #7
Can You Provide a List of the Ten Most Current Clients You Have Worked With?
Rather
than rely on the given list of referrals that many agents have
handpicked, it’s a good idea to obtain a list of clients that are
currently working with this Realtor. It will provide a much-needed
glimpse into the agent’s performance on various stages of real estate
transactions.
Question #8
How Much of Your Work Day Do You Dedicate to the Real Estate Industry?
You
want an agent that is 100% committed to their job and if they are
focusing more on a day job with real estate being a secondary thing, you
run the risk of inaccessibility, lack of knowledge and experience plus
lackluster motivation. Find out how they feel about the real estate
industry and whether they are passionate about their work.
Question #9
What is Your Style of Marketing – Proactive or Reactive?
What
is your potential agent’s style of working? Does he or she speak to a
large number of people each day? Are they proactive or reactive in
nature when it comes tomarketing?
See how this lines up with your real estate needs. Are you in a hurry
to buy or sell? Does a laid back agent hinder your efforts? Or does
slow and steady work better for you?
Question #10
What Does Your Daily Schedule Look Like?
The
typical schedule of a real estate professional can be very telling. By
asking for a copy or general idea of how they conduct their day in
terms of their work, you can get a good idea of how much time is devoted
to the profession and what kind of business they are running.