Professionalism – What Should Your REALTOR Do?

Well, Christmas has passed and now is the to get busy with putting your house on the market and hunting for the new one. Yes, you usually do that during the spring and summer months, but with the election and the economy and all, you just didn't get around to it. That is exactly the sediment of many sellers who will start to get their homes on the market and it can't happen a day too soon.

So, since you are going to be in the market for a REALTOR, we thought we would spend a few minutes and discuss one of the key things you need to look for - Professionalism! Opps- we're not going to make to many friends with some in my profession - oh well. Yes, marketing is important, but in our opinion it all starts with Professionalism. As you begin your search, let's look at a few key ingredients to help you make you decision:

1. Dress: Coats and ties are not necessary and we understand that pantyhose are over rated. However, your REALTOR should dress professionally. Blue jeans and shorts are great for around the house - they are totally inappropriate for your REALTOR to be wearing when they meet you or any potential seller or buyer.
   
2. Work Hours: In our opinion this is a huge one. No one needs to be in the office 80 hours a week - but you want to hire a full-time professional REALTOR. Not someone who plays at real estate kind of like they do with their golf game. Truthfully, if they have another job outside of the real estate professional that "they earn their living at" then they are truly just playing with real estate. You need a professional - not someone who doesn't believe enough in their own real estate skills to support their family.
   
3. Communication: Wow! This is a huge issue with many clients I speak to. It always goes something like this - when they came out to interview for the job (the listing presentation) they seemed so put together. But once I hired them I never, ever heard from them again. And if I wanted to talk to the agent, I called their office and all I could ever get was an assistant. If the agent can't guarantee you that you can talk to them the same day - and not one of their assistants - then DO NOT hire them.
   
4. Monday we will look at some basics for Marketing that you need to ensure your REALTOR can do - until then, good luck and happy selling!