Superbowl, what? Vince Lombardi, who? Now, I like a good trophy game as much as the next gal, but I have to admit that I’m a bit over all the hype. And don’t even get me started on the DGA/SAG/WGA/OscarFest that has already begun and for which they give awards from everything to best hairstyle in a foreign film to best action scene in an animated short. Yes, it’s fun to look at the pretty dresses and ogle the cutie pie actor that has suddenly become Hollywood’s next big thing, but really… it’s all just fluff. What if, instead of revering football players and starlets, we honored real people who help real people? What if we gave a trophy to every REALTOR who helped make a family’s dream come true? I know, it’s a bit of a stretch, but seriously. What if? And what would the criterion be for awarding such trophies? More importantly, what should you ask yourself when you’re looking for the lovely lady who will help you through the dramatic scenes of looking at house after house, who’ll give you a soliloquy of a pep talk when you start to believe that the house – YOUR HOUSE – isn’t out there? Or what about the gentleman who’ll arm you with everything you need to survive the action sequence that is the accepted offer/counter offer/inspection/closing saga?
First of all, you should make sure that your real estate agent is a Realtor®, that he or she is a member of the National Association of Realtors. The NAR has a strict code of ethics and each member agrees to abide by that code and make it their guiding principles through every step of the real estate transaction. As you might imagine, the code of ethics is extremely thorough, so I won’t go into the nitty-gritty, but if you’d like to read them, you may find them here. A member of the NAR understands that HONESTY is a quality that a successful real estate agent can’t live without. Honesty requires that your Realtor® is upfront and transparent through every step of the real estate transaction, even when the truth isn’t pretty or easy.
You want a Realtor® who has PASSION for what they do. Most of us start out with a fire in our belly, but true passion – that quality that draws others to us – can be hard to maintain year after year. It’s tough, but not impossible, so spend some time searching for someone who is seasoned, yet enthusiastic about their job.
This quality may give you pause, but it’s important to find a Realtor® who is also a bit of a RISK TAKER. A successful real estate professional has already figured out that building their business meant they couldn’t let opportunity take a back seat. They’ve made “carpe diem” their motto and they’ve learned the difference between a calculated risk and a foolish one. More importantly, they’ll put that skill to work for you in both searching for properties or buyers and helping you negotiate the best deal you can get.
You want your Realtor® to be TENACIOUS and resolute. They need to have a vision, not only for their own business, but very specifically for your dream. This isn’t a business for the tender-hearted, so a truly great agent is going to be able to provide calm counsel and a rah-rah pep talk at the same time!
Make sure the agent you choose is COMPASSIONATE. Believe me, during the process of buying or selling your home, you’ll talk to your agent more than you talk to your mother. You want to feel important and valuable. You want to know that your agent respects your needs, desires, and opinions.
And the Oscar goes to… YOU, for doing your research and your Realtor® for being creative, inspirational, enthusiastic, responsive and sensitive.
