Selecting A Chesterfield Real Estate Agent
For Buyers

There are over 10,000 active REALTORS^® in Chesterfield and the surrounding St. Louis area (and this is not all of the licensed real estate agents). What you probably do not know is that the National Association of Realtors^® tells us that in 1-5 years, over 80% of those REALTORS^® will have gotten out of the business. That is a national statistic. You’ve probably heard a family member or friend say, “I’m going to get into real estate and make a pile of money!” That’s probably why there are so many “real estate agents”. In some cities, almost one percent of the population either has or at one time had a real estate license. The truth is, you can make excellent money selling real estate – but few agents actually do. Most agents are part time, and only a small percentage of real estate agents do the majority of the business.

You need a full-time real estate agent who loves to sell real estate. For them, it isn’t work . . . it’s a pleasure. They are up early every morning, out in the field, going to preview other agent’s listings. They know the inventory in your market. And when it comes time to sell your home, your agent packages and markets the property well. Your agent is at local meetings, making sure other agents know about your home and learning about new listings so they can share the information with their buyers.
 
You also need a real estate professional . . . after all, if you have a $1,000 tax question; you would seek an accountant’s advice, right? If you have a $100,000+ real estate question, you need a real estate professional! As with most professions, experience pays in real estate. Experienced agents know the market and the marketing process. They'll have the best chance of quickly and smoothly helping you to buy or sell your home. The easiest and most effective way to narrow the field is to check out their credentials. Agents that have a CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) designation have completed a mandatory curriculum of course work, and have met performance requirements proving their experience. That’s why the CRS is considered the CPA of real estate. When you are ready to buy or sell, whether you have a cousin who is a real estate agent or not, you owe it to yourself, and your family, to at least call a real estate professional for an interview. This is a business transaction! See what our clients say about us.

Does the agent offer Buyer Agency? More and more buyers are deciding they want full contractual representation on the same level as the seller. Be sure to discuss Buyer Agency with any agent you are considering. Missouri State Law requires a signed agreement for Buyer Agency!

You need an agent who will really listen to your needs and concerns. The detail work necessary to determine your needs, discuss financial options, find your dream home, negotiate a contract, satisfy all contingencies and move forward to home ownership requires an agent who really listens AND who has an organized plan to help you stay on track and complete your home purchase. Has the agent earned the Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) designation? Is the agent a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)? Do they use these designations on their card and promotional pieces? Both of these designations give a home buyer an easy way to identify agents who have significant education and experience to be able to help them make their home purchase.

Does the agent you choose need experience in working with local buyers? First time buyers may need extra help in securing financing and a complete education in the home buying process. Seasoned veteran buyers may need to coordinate the very complicated time schedule for the sale of their present home with the purchase of their new home. The best gauge of a good home buying experience is to have past clients suggest that their friends and family use the same agent. Ask the agent you are interviewing to give you the names of some previous buyers that have referred that agent to others.

Has the agent worked with Relocation Companies and transferees? The challenge of helping to make the transition to a new area often requires additional services to make sure that the transferee enjoys living here as much as we do. The relocating buyer may request information about traffic patterns, local customs and all the things that we take for granted in our area. A good agent will make sure that a transferring employee follows the employee's company’s guidelines so they can maximize their company’s benefits and make a smooth transition to the new job and home.

Does the agent have a website that offers information about communities, schools and other helpful information that about the area you are considering? Do they have the capability for you to search for homes listed for sale on their site? Can they provide you email updates providing information on newly listed or updated properties within 1-2 hours of the listing or update?

To learn about the most effective method of searching for a new home, take a look at How to Search for a Home.

Contact us via the web, or call us at (636) 861-3790!