It shouldn't surprise you to know that I have some thoughts about hiring someone to help you out with real estate.  Because I've been helping people with real estate for a long time and I've seen the problems that come with poor vetting.  

What do first-time buyers need to know about their Realtor® before committing?

Your realtor® is your partner-in-crime when it comes to getting a great deal on real estate. Although you have access to more information in the housing market than ever, without the proper training to evaluate, filter and process that information, you are facing overload that will not help you seal a better deal.  This is where a great realtor® comes into play.  Here are some of the most important questions to ask when vetting your real estate partner, especially if you are a first time home buyer.

I am not a big fan of DIY real estate.  There is a lot to know.  And even for clients who like doing things themselves, most eventually realize that realtors add a lot.  So I like to go with my clients to potential listings, to help them see what I see. 

The Johnsons were referred to me to help them out by the good folks at the town planning office. Steve laughed when he told me that when he emailed another person about finding a good real estate agent. The name he received was the same as the one at the planning office.  

Lucky for me the name was mine.  Thanks guys!

We took a look at the vacant land on a Sunday, in the pouring rain. The property is where the Johnsons plan to spend their retirement years.

Sometimes, before someone lists a property with me, they need to get a sense of the appropriate range of potential values for their property without going through a formal, extensive appraisal process with a Certified Residential Appraiser. 

As a Realtor® and Broker, I can provide an Opinion of Value, which is a review of sales and property data for similar properties in your area.  As part of the Realtor® Code of Conduct, we are prohibited from providing Opinion of Value on properties in which we have financial interests, where we lack the appropriate technical skills and the fee charged for the OPV has nothing to do with the actual value of the property.