5 Steps to Choosing the Right New Orleans West Bank Real Estate Agent

Once you have decided that the time is right to buy a West Bank home, sell your existing West Bank home, or relocate to the New Orleans West Bank, how do you find the right agent?  What qualities set the perfect agent for you apart from the rest?

REALTOR®

I know that I am a tad biased, but I firmly believe that your agent should be a licensed REALTOR®.  Agent and REALTOR® are two different terms that most people take to mean the same thing.  However, a REALTOR® is obligated and committed to adhere to a strict code of ethics.  We attend an ethics orientation at the beginning of our careers and are required by the National Association of REALTORS® to take a refresher course every four years to keep up to date with any changes or amendments to the code.  No matter who you decide to hire to assist you in buying or selling your home, it should, without doubt, be a REALTOR®.

Responsiveness

When making that first contact with a REALTOR® you are interested in  working with, take note of how responsive they are to you, because they are setting the tone for how they will communicate through your entire sale.  Are your phone calls returned promptly?  If you left a message on Monday morning and it is now Tuesday afternoon, MOVE ON!  Are email inquiries responded to  in a timely manner?  At a minimum, your agent should be checking and responding to email in the morning and the evening.  Today’s technology magically sends email to cell phones and PDAs - is your REALTOR® taking advantage of this?  Slow responses to your requests can indicate slow responses to others as well.  Don’t miss out on a potential sale because your agent doesn’t return phone calls!

Communication

Can your REALTOR® communicate with you in the form that you prefer?  Every person has a different, preferred method for communication.  It could be

• phone calls
• email
• fax
• text messaging

It is important to choose a REALTOR® who is comfortable with YOUR preferred form of communication, whether it’s picking up the phone each time they have a question, an appointment or a new listing or just sending you information by email that you can read and respond to at your convenience.

Local Knowledge

Too many times, I see agents from other areas listing and selling properties on the West Bank.  I realize that they may be good friends with the buyer or seller or may even be a relative.  But, often, they are doing their friends and families no favors if they are not familiar with the area the property is located in.  Each part of the city has it’s own quirks.  Property values may change drastically from one side of a major street to another.  If your REALTOR® does not regularly work in the area you are interested in, ask for a referral to someone who does.  Don’t worry about the commission…you get the best service possible and your REALTOR® can still earn a referral fee.  A win-win for everyone!

Internet Presence

Over 80% of home buyers are now beginning their home search on the internet, long before ever contacting a REALTOR® to view properties in person.  Additionally, people relocating from one area of the country to another are reliant upon the internet to get a feel for the new city they are moving to.  As a seller, it only makes sense that your agent should have a strong internet presence, allowing them to market your home to the fullest.

The easiest way to find out if your agent is keeping up is to “check them out” online.  Just do  a Google search on their name…what are the results?  Hopefully, there is more than just a company website with their name and phone number.  Are they posting their listings to various online listing sites, or even better, creating custom property sites and virtual tours?  Do they participate in online real estate networking, continuing the learning process and building a strong referral base of other agents?   In 2008, an agent’s presence on the web is no longer optional…it is critical in getting your home sold!

Comfort

I know, it’s a funny word to use when describing how to find an agent.  But, when all is said and done, you must be comfortable with the REALTOR® that you choose.  You must have trust in them.  Trust that they will keep your best interests at the top of their To-Do list each day.  Trust that your confidential information will remain confidential.  Trust that they are working hard FOR YOU…after all, a home is the largest purchase or sale that most people will make in their lifetime.  Don’t leave that purchase or sale in the hands of someone you don’t feel comfortable with!

If you have any questions about how to hire a REALTOR®, feel free to give me call or drop me a line.  I’ll be happy to help!

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Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.