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Excellence in Real Estate

Use a REALTOR(R) To Buy Your Property

The terms, "Agent," Broker," and "Realtor (R)" are often used interchangeably but have very different meanings.  For an example, not all agents (also referred to as salespersons, sales associates, or brokers) are Realtors.  To be able to use the Realtor(R) designation, the licensed individual must join the Local, State, & National Associations of Realtors, and must subscribe to their strict Codes of Ethics, which in many cases, goes beyond what is called for by State Law.

As a buyer, it usually costs nothing to hire a real estate professional to help you find and purchase a home--your Realtor will likely get a portion of the commission the seller pays to his Realtor.  Choose an agent who works in the specific area you're interested in, as he or she will have knowledge of the local market trends.   You and your agent will form a partnership that results in a successful transaction.

Joanie and Rita at Absarokee Homes and Land can assist you in purchasing any property in Montana.

Evaluating Your Agent

Does he or she have an active real estate license in good standing?

Does he or she belong to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)?  If not, you may not be seeing all the properties available.

Which party is he or she representing?  This discussion should occur early on, at "first contact."

Are your phone calls returned, your questions answered, your requests met?

Does he or she explain basic principles of the transaction for you?

Is he or she there to assist you in negotiations, and diligent in tracking contingencies and deadlines?

Does he or she work with the Closing Agent to make sure all documents are completed in a timely manner?

Does he or she accomplish what needs to be done in a pleasant and effective manner?

Use a REALTOR(R) To Sell Your Property

Some owners think that selling their own property will save money & give them an advantage over the Realtor-using majority. Before you start down this complicated path, here are a few reasons why using a real estate professional is important: 1) You will be drastically limiting your exposure to potential buyers, which means it can take between 10 and 15 times longer to sell your home. Properties that take a long time to sell usually sell for less because buyers believe there must be something wrong with them. 2) Most buyers find negotiating with sellers extremely awkward, & therefore avoid For Sale By Owner situations. 3) Most buyers use a Realtor in their property search, and most buyers' agents will typically not work with FSBOs because they will not be paid. This means you will have to offer a selling commission to attract buyer's agents, which will cut into your expected "savings." 4) Lack of negotiating experience can result in a lower selling price, or worse, a bungled contract and possible lawsuits. It is probably unwise to pit your negotiating skills against those of experienced professionals. 5) If you plan to use a lawyer to help you negotiate, your lawyer's fees could be considerably higher than a Realtor's commission. Unlike Realtors, lawyers don't get paid for proactively representing your best interests or mediating delicate situations. 6) You only pay a commission to your Realtor if they successfully sell your property at a price you are happy with.