Realtors: Finding That Special Someone

So you’ve decided to buy a new home. What’s the first thing you should do? If you said call your parents to tell them the good news, you might want to keep reading. The first thing you should do, is call someone with experience buying and selling homes — in other words a Realtor.

 Before you start looking for your real estate soul mate, there are some things to keep in mind. First, there is a difference between a real estate agent and a Realtor. An agent is anyone who's earned a license to sell property, which typically entails taking 100+ hours of course work and then passing a state exam. A Realtor is an agent but he or she also is a member of the National Association of Realtors®. Realtors adhere to a detailed code of ethics to treat their clients honestly and fairly.

Second, locating the right Realtor for you might take some time. Talk to several before making your decision — after all you will be relying on this person and spending a lot of time with him or her. Make sure your Realtor understands your needs. The best place to find a Realtor isn’t the phone book. Try these options first:

• Talk to friends who have recently bought or sold a home, if they loved their Realtors you might love them too.
• Shop online. Sites such as the Houston Association of Realtor’s Find Your Real Estate Agent tool can easily connect you with Realtors in your area or the area you would like to move to.
• Attend open houses. These give you an opportunity to see homes you like but also meet Realtors — one of whom you might connect with.

It’s a process but worth it. Realtors have your back. Their goal is to help you through the complicated process of finding and purchasing your dream home, and if you are selling your old home, they can help with that too. Even if your goal is to buy a new, build-to-order home, a Realtor can you help find the right community, the right builder and the right mortgage for you. They also can help you negotiate upgrades, navigate the paperwork and be there with you during the walk through.

Wondering what else the right Realtor can do for you? Here are our top eight reasons to call one today! 

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