Would you jump out of a plane with an inexperienced skydiving instructor still learning the ropes? I didn’t think so! The same goes for hiring an experienced South of Boston Realtor when you’re buying or selling a home and conducting one of the largest financial transactions of your lifetime. 
It’s important to make a thorough search and hire an experienced South of Boston Realtor in your hyper-local marketplace, just as you would before hiring a skydiving teacher, Contractor or Surgeon. There are several ways to find the right agent and the best fit for you. You can attend real estate open houses in your local marketplace to see how an experienced South of Boston Realtor interacts with you while representing another homeowner, however, if you’re a buyer, you’ll want to use an exclusive buyer’s agent and not the seller’s agent on duty at the open house.
Top reasons why home buyer’s and seller’s should hire an experienced South of Boston Realtor
Paperwork – An experienced South of Boston Realtor can help you wade through the cumbersome and often complicated paperwork that goes hand-in-hand with any real estate transaction, making sure the proper forms are filled out correctly and delivered electronically or by hand on time.
Technology – An experienced South of Boston Realtor can tap into the latest technologies serving the housing industry today. This includes the multiple listing service (MLS), Town Assessors and the Registry of Deeds, plus the numerous real estate websites that consumers frequent such as Zilow, Trulia, and Realtor.com. A Realtor has access to hyper-local market data detailing crucial data such as pricing trends; time on the market; and historical sales activity in your neighborhood. Having an experienced South of Boston Realtor on your side will make a difference.
Hyper-Local knowledge – An experienced South of Boston Realtor has the ability to provide the local “on the ground” perspective, which is not available on the internet or through Zillow or Realtor.com or any website. An experienced South of Boston Realtor knows their hyper-local market and has first-hand knowledge about a neighborhood’s amenities and services, such as schools, zoning laws, and tax rates. There’s also a good chance they’ve been in the other houses for sale in the area and know the market extremely well.
Tips on finding and hiring an experienced South of Boston Realtor when buying or selling a home
Another way to locate the best agent for you is to search on-line and see which real estate professionals have the marketing and technological savvy necessary in today’s real estate marketplace. An experienced South of Boston Realtor who is proactive and technologically savvy can usually be found on the internet with a solid social media presence interacting with buyers and sellers. Maybe that’s how you were led to this blog post and found me! You can also ask for references on-line or ask family and friends. But here’s spome advice, don’t just do business with the first real estate agent you bump into or the person that answers the phone at the real estate office you call. Ask the prospective real estate agent how long they have been licensed to sell real estate, how long they have been working in this local market, and what differentiates them from all the other real estate agents. This is your chance to test their skills right out of the gate, so try to negotiate something with them, even if it’s something outlandish. See how they react and if you like their style and their answer, then consider using that agent. Also, always ask if they are a REALTOR member and not just a licensed agent. There’s a big difference.
Negotiation – Buying or selling a home calls for solid negotiating skills, someone who is educated and skillfully trained with this specific expertise. An experienced skilled REALTOR can assist you with the critical negotiations included in every real estate transaction, and help buyers and sellers finalize the many details that comprise a final purchase agreement, not just the price, which we sometimes think is the most important factor. The terms, contingencies and performance dates of the agreement are just as important as the price. As I tell clients, “The price is not always the most important consideration.”
Representation – As a buyer or seller, your REALTOR’s role typically includes negotiating a sale price and terms. However, many times there can be issues that can become deal breakers or re-negotiation points, such as information derived from a poor home inspection report. Depending on your REALTOR’S role as a buyer’s agent or seller’s agent, they have a fiduciary responsibility to you and you only. It is important to have the best representation as a buyer or seller so you can be assured you’ll receive the best advice and consultation during the entire transaction. Your respective agent will also work closely with your Attorney and lender to make sure everyone is aiming toward the same goal and helping you.
Pricing – If you’re buying or selling a home, an experienced skilled REALTOR can save you time and money by tapping into the local market data and reports, utilizing their professional expertise and local knowledge of the marketplace and trends to help you determine a realistic price for the home. It is a statistical fact that sellers and buyers who don’t employ an experienced skilled REALTOR, leave money on the table or pay too much for homes. It is not worth it to go it alone or to use an agent that is either inexperienced or not familiar with the marketplace. They have nothing to lose, but you have a lot to lose.
Closing Support – An experienced skilled REALTOR can provide expert and objective support during the closing process, ensuring both seller and buyer have received the proper documentation for successfully completing a sale transaction and coordinating a final property walk-through. An experienced and skilled REALTOR is instrumental during the final two weeks of the transaction gathering final readings, certificates and other documentation for the closing Attorney. I can tell you from experience that many closings that may have been possibly delayed or blown up were saved by the efforts of an experienced skilled REALTOR who has been there before and knows how to put the pieces back together when all seems doomed. An experienced skilled REALTOR doesn’t sweat the small stuff and is an expert at being creative and solving problems.
What’s the difference between a REALTOR and a licensed agent?
Not everyone who sells real estate is a REALTOR. Possessing a real estate license in Massachusetts does not afford instant REALTOR status–a distinction of which you need to be aware. A REALTOR in Massachusetts is a member of National Association of REALTORS, the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS and a local Board of REALTORS. By being a member, a REALTOR subscribes to a strict Code of Ethics, pledges to provide fair treatment for all parties involved, protect the right of individuals to own property, and keep abreast of changes in real estate practice through continuing education and interaction with other professionals. An experienced skilled REALTOR is committed to a higher level of education and professional development; many REALTORS have earned professional designations or specialty certifications requiring intensive study. REALTOR George Jamieson has earned the coveted GRI designation (Graduate, REALTOR Institute) of which only 11% of Massachusetts REALTOR’s have attained.
George has over 22 years of real estate experience on the South Shore servicing customers in the towns of Norwell, Hanover, Hingham, Weymouth, Braintree, Scituate, Cohasset, Hull, Pembroke, Rockland, Quincy, Abington, Milton, Marshfield, Duxbury, Hanson and Kingston. I would love to help you and your family buy your next home. William Raveis Real Estate is the largest independently owned real estate agency in the Northeast and 8th largest independently owned real estate company in the United States. George will earn your business and your trust, giving you the peace of mind you deserve during the entire real estate sales process. This is typically one of the largest financial decisions you will make in your lifetime. Having the most experienced and skilled negotiator at your side could mean the difference of tens of thousands of dollars.
Client satisfaction is my #1 priority and this can only be achieved by clear communication, collaboration, availability and real commitment to my clients. As your exclusive agent, I will be your guide and exclusive partner in this important process. It is important to work with an agent and firm that is more interested in your needs than theirs. William Raveis Real Estate is built on a strong foundation of integrity and high moral and ethical standards. This is the backbone of our business success.
If you would like to utilize the services of an experienced skilled REALTOR, either as a buyer’s agent or seller’s agent, please contact me, REALTOR George Jamieson at William Raveis Real Estate at 617-877-4839 or email George at George.jamieson@raveis.com. Alternatively, feel free to fill out the contact form below and I will be in touch shortly.