| In residential real estate transactions, sellers | | | | to the property and in the broader surrounding |
| commonly take pains to interview and to select a | | | | community. |
| Realtor. | | | | That University Park real estate ad, for instance, will |
| They will talk to friends, get referrals, ask for | | | | not tell the buyer they are considering moving to: |
| references, and generally interview prospects. | | | | - the top suburb in Dallas/Fort Worth according to D |
| Buyers, on the other hand, tend to just respond to | | | | Magazine in 2002, 2004, and 2008, |
| an ad, as if "University Park homes for sale" tells | | | | - an area served by the seven campuses of the |
| them anything they need to know about the | | | | Highland Park Independent School District, all with |
| professional with whom they will be doing business. | | | | "Exemplary" ratings from the Texas Department of |
| By the way, University Park is a leading suburb | | | | Education, |
| surrounding Southern Methodist University in Dallas, | | | | - neighborhoods situated five miles from downtown |
| Texas. | | | | Dallas that are highly regarded for quality of life |
| What Real Estate Homes For Sale Ads Don't Tell You | | | | issues, |
| Let's continue this example ... that advertisement for | | | | - or that University Park houses carry a relatively low |
| homes for sale in University Park, will most likely | | | | tax rate when weighted against some of the highest |
| contain a nice set of photos, a brief summary of the | | | | long-term property values in the city. |
| property's major amenities, and a stated asking price. | | | | You most certainly care how many bedrooms and |
| Certainly, those things are important and "eye | | | | bathrooms the house has, but you care as much or |
| catching" in making a buyer want to actually see the | | | | more about the value of your investment and the |
| listing. There are many important things, however, to | | | | quality of life you and your family will enjoy in and |
| which that ad copy does not speak about the actual | | | | around your new home. |
| Realtor you would be working with, including the: | | | | Realtors Are The Licensed Professionals |
| - education and training, | | | | This deeper level of purchase consultation comes out |
| - market experience, | | | | of confidential discussions with a real estate |
| - professional focus, | | | | professional who seeks to meet the client's: |
| - ethics practices, | | | | - needs, |
| - and area knowledge | | | | - tastes, |
| If all you do as a buyer is answer an ad, you are | | | | - and budget. |
| going into an important and potentially expensive | | | | While the vast majority of Realtors sometimes work |
| transaction essentially blind. The situation is made | | | | with buyers or sellers, most have a specialty. For the |
| even more complex if the buyer is relocating to | | | | buyer, the question becomes a simple matter of: |
| Dallas from another part of the country. | | | | - Do I want to work exclusively with someone who |
| The Most Successful Transactions Involve Two | | | | is trying to sell me something? |
| Agents | | | | Or... |
| The most successful real estate transactions are | | | | - Do I want to work with someone who is going to |
| those in which each side is represented by its own | | | | help me buy the property that best matches my |
| professional: the listing agent for the seller and the | | | | personal situation? |
| buyer's agent for the buyer. That way, each side has | | | | Consumers interested in buying a home should |
| its own professional representing their interest. | | | | exercise the same degree of care in selecting a |
| The listing agent is interested in selling you their | | | | Realtor they would apply to the search for any other |
| client's house. Let me repeat that part: their client's | | | | professional. Find a knowledgeable member of the |
| house. The buyer's agent will go farther in helping the | | | | real estate profession who will protect your interests |
| consumer to understand the implications of buying a | | | | and those of your family and who will help you to |
| particular property. The buyer's agent has much ore | | | | spend your money wisely and well. |
| incentive to point out both pros and cons of a | | | | Qualities To Look For In A Realtor |
| particular property. | | | | You want a Realtor who: |
| If they are a good agent, they're interested in the | | | | - fully understands both sides of the transaction |
| long-term interests of their client. Thinking long-term | | | | process, |
| is the way to build a real estate business and | | | | - does not engage in high pressure tactics over |
| generate referrals from satisfied and grateful clients. | | | | supplying real, useful information, |
| Buying a piece of residential property is likely the | | | | - actively assists clients in researching ALL available |
| largest purchase most individuals will ever make in | | | | listings that meet buyer criteria, |
| their lives. It means buying not just a home, but | | | | - and who will inform you about the long-term |
| buying into the community in which that home is | | | | implications of properties in which you are interested. |
| situated. A decision of that magnitude deserves -- in | | | | If you are going to relocate to Dallas, you also need |
| fact, cries out for -- the highest level of professional | | | | an agent who understands the special needs of |
| expertise and consultation at your disposal. | | | | those relocating to Texas. |
| Buyer's Agents Work On Your Behalf | | | | Finally, buyers want and need a Realtor with excellent |
| Buyer's agents protect the broader interests of their | | | | communications skills who is easily reached at any |
| clients by helping them to understand: | | | | point in the search for or purchase of a property. A |
| - current market values, | | | | buyer's agent is not a luxury in the search for "real |
| - long-term investment potential, | | | | estate for sale in University Park," that professional is |
| - the implications of relocation, | | | | a necessity.article submitted on behalf of author |
| - and, perhaps most importantly, the nuances of | | | | Darrell Self. |
| location, both in the immediate neighborhood adjacent | | | | |
