I’ve been in the real estate business for over 23 years, and I’ve had my license longer than that. In that time, I’ve seen a lot of trends and patterns, and learned many lessons.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is the importance of working with an experienced agent, whether you’re a buyer or a seller. An experienced REALTOR® has the negotiating skills needed to help you get the best value for your money.

I remember I was negotiating with a buyer, who was looking at another house with another agent. The other house was a little less expensive, but the agent didn’t know how to negotiate as well. I was able to work with the buyer, showed them the added value of this house, and we ultimately won the sale. It helped the seller sell their home, and the buyer find the home that really fit their needs.

An experienced REALTOR® makes buying a home easier, help you avoid problems, and make sure you’re getting the best value for your money. We know all the ins and outs of negotiating a contract. We have the information about the community where your house is located, including schools, shopping, churches, parks, and even the best coffee shops. We can tell you about how the assessments work, property tax rates, and financing and mortgage information.

Whether you’re moving into a development or buying a custom-built home, an experienced REALTOR® understands the home building process and can show you what separates one builder from the other. We can show you which builders are known for their quality, both behind the walls and what’s visible, which ones pay attention to the little details, and which ones have good customer service.

An experienced REALTOR® also has an extensive network of people who will make your home buying and selling process much easier. We know all the mortgage brokers in town, the title companies, the real estate lawyers, and even the moving companies.

Many people are going online to search for their new homes, which is great. Buyers and sellers are becoming more educated about their homes and the process. Just make sure you find that experienced REALTOR®. When you’re looking for a real estate agent, ask a few questions first:

• How many years experience do they have?
• How many homes do they sell each year?
• Are they part of a REALTOR® team?
• Is this a full-time or part-time business for them?
• Do they have an assistant, or do they try to do everything themselves?

Be sure to ask enough questions and that you’re satisfied with the answers. The benefit will be in the extra money you made or saved in your buying and selling process.

This entry was posted on Monday, May 11th, 2009 at 10:59 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.