Doctor, I don't know if you have found your REALTOR or home yet. You are moving to a beautiful city with alot of things to offer. You have the Mountains, the lakes, all art district, and alot of areas that will be convenient to the hospital, whichever one that is. Your REALTOR can help your narrow down your search for areas by listening to you about your lifestyle and the activities that you like to do. I am sure with you working at the hospital that you probably want to be close so you don't spend your quality time in a car driving. If I can be of assistance please let me know, I would appreciate the opportunity to assist you. Please check out my website and call me at 423-774-7703. If you have already found your REALTOR then I wish you much luck and success.

Fri Jun 20 2008, 08:16

BECCA WE HAVE A NICE PIECE OF LAND WITH A OLDER FARM HOME IT WITH BEAUIFUL 100 YEAR OLD TREES WITH FENCING FOR HORSES AND A WONDERFUL PLACE FOR A NICE LAKE PERFECT FOR GATED ESTATE EMAIL IF THIS SOUND INTERESTING WE ARE ABOUT 6MILES OFF OF INTERSTATE 59 20 TO 30 MINUTES FOR HOSPITALS mgs7066@yahoo.com this is not listed and hasn't been listed

Thu Jun 19 2008, 22:41

Hello Doctor!
You have had a lot of great responses from Realtors in our area. Have you found a Realtor to work with yet? I was wondering how your home search was going. It's good to get feedback from buyers on how they are treated in our market and how Realtors can better serve their customers

Best regards,
Becca Whitmire
Century 21 1st Choice Realtors

Thu Jun 19 2008, 19:01

Good afternoon to you and your family. Welcome to Chattanooga. I would be happy to schedule a time to meet with you to find out more about you and your family so that I may assist you better in your search for a new home. My contact information is available on my website.

Thu Jun 19 2008, 13:55

Certainly welcome the opportunity to serve your needs. My wife Patrice and I are Realtors with Prudential RealtyCenter here in Chattanooga. Please visit our website: http://www.homesearchchattanooga.com for up-to-date listings, reports, links of interest.

Do you have children and/or pets? Patrice and I specialize in relocations having moved many times ourselves. Let us be the first to say, welcome to Chattanooga... it is a wonderful area and please know that we would consider it a privilege to help you in your home search.

Wed Jun 18 2008, 18:43

North Chattanooga/Riverview- close to hospitals, beautiful homes and great schools....

Wed Jun 18 2008, 18:30

Good Morning Doctor!
Welcome to East Tennessee!
I am a realtor in Cleveland, just North of Chattanooga. If you are looking for a small town feel, close to Chattanooga, great schools, shopping and neighbors, I have a couple of great houses listed that just might fit your needs.
log on tohttp:// www.3244ridgetopdrive.com to check out a beautiful custom home in Cleveland and then log on tohttp:// www.2010partridgeroad.com for another great home in Cleveland.
Now, if these two are not what you are looking for, there are many more!
I would love to help you find that perfect home.
E mail me or call, I am at your service! I will work on your schedule.
Best regards,
Becca Whitmire
Century 21 1st Choice Realtors

Wed May 28 2008, 06:24

Doc,
Lots of good feedback. Personally, I think you should ask your colleagues. I am sure there are several in your new office who have purchased homes. Once you ask around, decide on 2 or 3 agents, do the background checks, and then interview. There are several top notch agents out there, find the one you feel most comfortable. A referral says a lot about an agent.....more than anything you could read or anything they could tell you. Best of luck with your search for an agent and your new home.

Mon May 19 2008, 19:47

Dear "Doc": Well, you are to be commended for your research. I hope more prospective clients do the same with every profession when seeking informative and honest information. I agree with Julia, depending upon the specific circumstances of each instance, none of us need be quick to form a judgment. Further, I am in agreement that there are many, many professional realtors out there with zero blemishes. When the time comes you are ready to decide on a realtor, don'tforget to get referrals from colleagues in your new employment offices - -In the long run, I think you'll do just fine and find the perfect realtor for you! Best wishes!!
Tina Evans, Principal Broker

Mon May 19 2008, 19:17

I'm impressed with your background check as well. I'd be hard pressed to say whether the civil penalties imposed would completely eliminate that licensee from my consideration. Sounds like the first penalty was probably a result of a consumer complaint (which would factor more into my decision). From the wording, the second appears to have been as a result of a TN Real Estate Commission audit. Without knowing the circumstances for either one I, personally, would withhold judgement.

Having said that, I would be reticent to hire an agent knowing that they have been assessed penalties. There are lots of Realtors out there with no blemishes on their public record and without a personal recommendation you could certainly use worse criteria for narrowing your selection than that one.

Mon May 19 2008, 17:40

I can not speak for the agent's in question, and sadly, it is not uncommon to find unprofessional realtors but, I am sure that there are unprofessional's in the healthcare profession who are "questionable". Please do not let the few unprofessional realtors who make bad choices in our profession speak for all of us who are honest and forth coming. I will not speak negativity of the agent's in question; but, I commend you in your choice to a background search of our agents here in Tennessee, including myself. I do the same when it comes to a search of a healthcare professional for myself and my child. Again, I will be more than happy to help you in your search or answer any further questions that may help you in your search. Thank you for your time and consideration. Deborah Arace Century 21 Howe Realty & Auction.

Mon May 19 2008, 15:21

Dear all,

Thank you for you kind responses, including those from individuals(s) who are not real estate agents.

For those of you who are real estate agents: I have taken it upon myself to carefully review information at your websites, as well as to review any records associated with your licenses maintained by the state of Tennessee.

I discovered that one agent who posted in to thread with an offer of assistance was assessed a $1,000 civil fine by the state of Tennessee state regulatory board for "failure to submit a timely offer." This same agent paid another $1,000 fine for an earlier and unrelated incident "when it was determined (that individual) paid commissions to an unlicensed firm in two transactions and for failing to properly make agency disclosure in two of five transactions reviewed by the auditor."

I'd like to hear from other agents if they think it is o.k. to seek the services of an agent with these sort of violations, and if so, why? Also, are these type violations common in the industry? Personally, I was shocked when I read this and could not understand how this individual managed to retain a real estate license.

I am still reviewing answers being posted here in this thread, and as well doing some more research on the housing market in your area. I appreciate all of your input.

Thank You Very Much,

"The Doctor"

Mon May 19 2008, 08:41

I have read through all responses to your request and I must say that Brenda is correct and gave you good advise. I am an agent in the area of Chattanooga and would be more than happy to help you. If would like, I could email you some listing's in the area of Chattanooga and then answer any questions you may have about our area. I would be more than happy to send you more information about Chattanooga and give a tour of our area. Feel free to contact me at 423-836-0295. Thank you for your time and consideration. Deborah Arace, Century 21 Howe Realty & Auction.

Sun May 18 2008, 17:48

Good Afternoon. I would be more than happy to assist you with your real estate needs here in Chattanooga.
Just give a call to 423 991-1671 and we can make arrangements for a consultation and get started.

Look forward to hearing from you,
Diane Evans
Re/Max Properties
Chattanooga, TN
423 991-1671 Direct
423 875-2255 Direct Office

Sat May 17 2008, 15:26

My friend has a few properties in Chattanooga that he would consider selling, but i am only licensed in Florida so it would be a personal referral to you or to a local Realtor of your choice. Please let me know if i may provide you with specific information. Best wishes in your new home, Vivian

Fri May 16 2008, 14:58

We would be honored to help you in your search to find a home in Chattanooga. We are currently ranked as top agents specializing in relocations. Once you arrive in Chattanooga we will give you a tour of our city to help you narrow down the area, we will then focus on finding the perfect home for you and your family. Just send me an email slawrence@realtycenter.com or visit my site and email me from there. You can reach us at 423-838-5011 (Sherry) or 423-802-2014 (Doug) or my office 423-308-7616, we look forward to helping you.

Fri May 16 2008, 14:50

Part of the service a realtor provides to a seller is making sure buyers are qualified before viewing their home. The lock box and Centralized Showing Service also serves to give the homeowners notice before their property is shown so they are not caught off guard in the shower, or some other activity that needs to be finished before aloowing company in. When strangers knock on their door, my sellers give them my card to make an appointment.
Another service provided by realtors is negotiating. A "low ball" offer would need to be substantiated in order to be considered.
The real estate contract itself is of interest to me. Is the contract you are using approved by the State you are buying in?
Ever hear of someone inheriting a property, then when they try to sell it, finding out there is a cloud on the title? You may conduct transactions with illicit, or just incorrect, paperwork but it will eventually catch up with the property. Freeing the title so that the property can be legally sold can be time-consuming and costly.
Suppose the gentleman does as you suggest and drives around calling numbers off signs in front of houses he is drawn to. On the one hand, getting a feel for the neighborhoods is always good; on the other hand, could he spend his time more effectively by enlisting the aid of a professional?
Picture this:
The gentleman tells his Realtor what he needs in a house; how many bedrooms & bathrooms, style of house, garage spots, amenities, etc. He also tells his Realtor where he will be going daily and weekly.
To business and social activities, school and volunteer functions, etc. He also tells his Realtor what he likes to do in his spare time. (i.e. golf, fish, bowl, swim or bike) The Realtor puts this all together with his knowledge of the area and shows the man the five best homes in his price range that meet his criteria.
It takes perhaps 2 - 3 hours, including the initial conversation.
Many people find that their time is too valuable to spend finding a house your way.
Many people prefer to work with a professional when making large investments such as a house.
And yes, your "answer" did make me think of a used car salesman.

Fri May 16 2008, 11:32