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Using A REALTOR®
 
You're ready! You've decided to seize the unique opportunities presented
by the current housing market. The single most important transaction in your
lifetime should not be conducted without the expertise and assistance of trained
and licensed professionals, and this is where REALTORS® come in. And, chances
are you may be buying or selling a home again. Developing a long-term
relationship with a REALTOR® is the best way to ensure you will be well-armed
and informed when making your housing decisions.
What's Different About a REALTOR®
Working with a real estate professional who is a REALTOR® is in your best
interest. Not everyone who sells real estate is a REALTOR¨. Possessing a real
estate license does not afford instant REALTOR® status--a distinction of which
you need to be aware. A REALTOR® is a member of local, state and national
professional trade associations and, as such, has access to a vast array of
educational programs, research and resources. By being a member, a REALTOR®
subscribes to a strict code of ethics, and pledges to provide fair treatment for
all parties involved, protect the right of individuals to own property and keep
abreast of changes in real estate practice through continuing education and
interaction with other professionals.
As a member of the CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS¨, your REALTOR® can tap into numerous resources, like
immediate access to full-time, staff real estate attorneys, who can provide
objective up-to-the-minute counsel. He or she receives up-to-date information on
a wide variety of legal, financial and economic issues, and has access to an
association with more than 80 years of experience in real estate. And, if things
don't work out, arbitration is a choice your REALTOR® can offer instead of
lengthy and expensive legal proceedings.
The Right REALTOR® for You
Like finding the right house, selecting a REALTOR® you can trust and
comfortably work with is paramount. Just as you wouldn't be casual in the
selection of your doctor or your attorney, you shouldn't take the selection of
your REALTOR® lightly. Indeed, the best way to find such a professional is
through recommendations from family and friends. Of course, you should interview
several REALTORS® before you choose one. If you are selling your home, you
should ask the candidates how they plan to market your home, what pricing advice
they can offer, and what other suggestions they can provide to further enhance
the desirability of your home. Ask questions about the transaction to evaluate
the REALTOR®'s knowledge. Ask for--and check--references. And, finally, ask
yourself whether you will feel comfortable working closely with this individual
in the months ahead.
Text used with permission of the California Association of Realtors
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