Jorge has been my agent and an agent for many of my friends. He is a friend, referral partner and all around great guy. I hope you enjoy the conversation I had with Jorge that inspired today's topic. Check out our interaction and feel free to wiegh in with differing opinions or other feedback from your own experiences.
Brian: What is the most important attribute of a great real estate agent?
Jorge: "You should really be focusing on one question as you intereact with your agent. Does my agent have my best interest in mind? If the answer is clearly yes, then you are on the right track. If you are not sure, take your time deciding if you want them to exlusively represent you in your property purchase."
Brian: How can we tell if our agent is acting in our best interest?
Jorge: "Agents who continually try to show houses that don't fit the profile you have discussed or homes that are only at the top of your price range may be focused more on the commission rather than getting you the right house. Some agents will push only new homes because there can be large bonuses for selling these. When negotiating for repairs or writing initial offers, the agent should provide clear direction and professional opinion but in the end, they are working for you and should be willing to write the offer according to your wishes. Some agents will quickly settle to seller demands to save a deal and I don't think this is the best representation of the buyer."
Brian: What are some obvious signs to help me know if I have chosen the wrong agent?
Jorge: "if an agent starts the relationship with a conversation like this; you may need to find a new agent. Here is my business card, when you find the house you like just give me a call so I can show it to you. Please sign this buyers agreement so I am protected if another agent trys to sell you a house.
A buyer can certainly keep their eyes and ears open for a house that meets their needs but the majority of the searching and leg work should be done by the agent. That's a big reason why you hire us. Don't settle for an unmotived agent who is simply trying to make easy money for writing your offer.
One other thing that bothers me is when agents ask clients to pay them up front for services. Don't pay your agent to show you houses, we get paid well when you close on the house. The best way for us to get a deal closed and get paid is by doing our job very well."
Brian: Jorge, this is really good information and I think it can save people a lot of hassle if they follow your advice. Can you give us some tips on how to find a great agent like yourself?
Jorge: "I always think that personal referrals are the best way to get connected to a great agent. Many of my clients come that way. The next best way is through online reviews if you don't have any personal references to rely on. You can look at real estate sites that have reviews and get a feel for who is strong in the area you are looking."
Brian: Jorge, I really appreciate your take on this subject and the great advice. I am sure that folks will find useful tips here. To wrap this up, give us your top 5 traits to look for in a great agent.
Jorge: "They should ask good questions and pay close attention to the houses you like so they can refine your search for you. They should be accessible within a timely manner. They should do whatever it takes to get you into the house you are interested in even if it means jumping a fence and getting dog bitten (I've done this in case your wondering). They should guide you to qualified service providers such as a great lender and whatever else you need through out the process. Most importantly, focus on providing great service more than pre-screening you to see if you are worth their time.
Brian: Jorge, this has been very enlightening and it's always a pleasure doing business with you, I am linking you on this post and sharing some of your reviews for readers to check out. Thank you for your time and your referrals.
To learn more about Jorge's online reputation you can visit his profile on Zillow and see what some of his clients have to say. http://www.zillow.com/profile/Top-Rated-realtor/
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