Great answer Tammy! This is so true!
Michelle

Fri May 16 2008, 11:42

Michelle makes a good point about visabilty of listings on the internet. However also be sure the RE professional you select to work with does not soley depend on buyers "bumping' into thier internet listings. Your agent should be proactive about finding buyers and knocking on thier "virtual" doors and not just waiting for buyer to knock on thiers! Be sure your agent has marketing strategies for "today" selling not "2005" selling.

Fri May 16 2008, 10:59

Hi Diane,

Tammy makes a good point that simply googling an agent doesn't make them the best agent. If that is how it sounded then I failed to communicate.
The point is this...when you are marketing a home in this market, it better be coming up online...if someone has a strong online presence, that will happen.
When you ask a friend or family member for a referral, make sure you do google the agent to see how strong their online presence is...if they don't have one,
chances are, your home home won't be in front of the 50,000 or so people moving into Arizona soon. In my opinion, this is a missed opportunity as a home seller. People out of state typically start searching online long before they step foot in Arizona.
Just my .02 worth.
Michelle

Thu May 15 2008, 16:59

Diane,

I don't believe your question was ever answered....the answer is yes. Title companies do gather this and other information when closing escrows. They do not, however, distribute the information.

I disagree with Michelle in that the top selling professional is not the person that pops up when you google "Gilbert Agents". A top ranking on the internet simply means that person has knowledge of internet marketing.

If in fact you are searching for a real estate professional to assit you in selling your home, I feel the best was is to ask your friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Then, take the time to meet or call each of the referrals. Finding the right real estate professional is like finding the perfect pair of shoes....each one will fit your needs and personality differently. You want to make sure you have good communication and the professional has solid strategies and follow through to market your home.

Good luck!
Tammy

Thu May 15 2008, 16:44

Diane,
You are most likly caught in the current market conditions. Hiring a new REALTOR may or may not be the answer. If you still can't price inline with the current market, a new REALTOR will not change that. REALTORS, appraisers and sellers don't determine the price of the sale of your home...only buyers do. It doesn't matter how much you want or need, this does not affect the price.
Think of a pointed mountain....envision the market as a bus going up the mountain....a seller could overprice their home a little bit and still get their price.....now that the bus is going down the mountain...if you overprice even a little, you are behind the bus instead of in front of it...every time you drop the price...the bus has moved further down the mountain...therefore you chase the bus (market) down. It is better to price it in front of the bus and cut your losses up front. Otherwise you will continue to lose money.
Warm Regards,
Michelle Shelton
www.mapazhomes.com

Sat Apr 26 2008, 17:29

Hi Diane,
The top selling REALTORS in Gilbert are typically the ones that come up online. Depending on how you search, it could vary. Top REALTORS go all over the Valley and some stay in neighborhoods....those typically aren't the "Top REALTORS" in my opinion. I live in Gilbert....a lot of our business is in Gilbert, however, a lot of it is in Scottsdale too!
Call me and I will do some research for you and tell you who some of the top realtors are...I have done transactions with most of them. If there is a way to earn your business, that would be great too!
Warm Regards,
Michelle Shelton
AZ Mastermind Group
www.mapazhomes.com

Sat Apr 26 2008, 17:23

The Best in anything is in the eye of the beholder. You should definitely check on their backgrounds and track records and ask for references and as mentioned by another agent, the most sales is not always the best agent for you. I would interview 2-3 agents and determine that based on what is important to you, select the one that seems to best address your concerns and questions. A full-time Professional that is a part of a team might also be a consideration as you will have the resources of several folks on your side. Duane Washkowiak - Realty Executives

Thu Apr 3 2008, 18:59

Diane the best way to find a good realtor is to interview them. It is important that your realtor is familiar with the area you choose to live in. When talking with the agent ask questions that best represents your needs. The agent you choose should be the one you feel most comfortable with, one you can work with easily and is willing to listen to your concerns.

Wed Apr 2 2008, 10:19

Diane
The Realtor with the most transactions may not be the best Realtor for you. I am not the "biggest" Realtor in my town.

Depending upon your situation, I would think the best Realtor for you is one that knows the market, has sold homes in the area, and has TIME and ENERGY to devote to you. There are some Realtors that are so busy that clients get "lost in the shuffle". Selling your home is going to be very important to you, so don't you want your Realtor to think your sale is "very important" or is it going to be "just another listing, if it sells or doesn't sell, no big deal".

I would interview a couple of Realtors and select the one that you think will do the best jobs. Some "big" Realtors actually have past clients say they would never use them again, never return calls, never able to reach them, etc.

Sat Mar 15 2008, 12:39