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Avoid a Credit Repair Scam by Understanding Croa

October 28, 2010 By shanu

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In years past, the credit repair industry was tainted by fly by night credit repair clinics and other credit fixing scams. Despite the need that many people had to get help with repairing their credit, it was hard to find a credit repair company they could trust.

Today, the credit repair industry has matured thanks to increased awareness and federal regulation. The keystone of this regulation is the Credit Repair Organizations Act, also known as CROA. Recognizing the value of professional credit repair services, Congress enacted CROA in order to define appropriate actions of a credit repair organization and to outlaw many of the practices typical of a fraudulent credit repair clinic.

While there are still some fraudulent credit repair organizations trying to take your money, by understanding the basic ideas of CROA, you can easily identify these scams and make sure you avoid them. Knowing what things credit repair companies are and are not able to do, will keep you from becoming a victim.

Below are three key points of CROA and what they mean to you as you are shopping for a credit repair company.

1) Credit repair organizations cannot charge fees for services before they are rendered

Most credit repair scams start off the same way. You are required to pay a large upfront fee, often times in the range of hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Then, after you have made the payment, the credit repair company does little or nothing to repair your credit and in some cases, simply disappears with your money.

To keep you from becoming a victim of this type of scam, CROA prevents credit repair companies from charging for services before they have been provided. If a credit repair company charges a set up fee, they cannot collect that fee until after the task of setting up your case has been completed. If a credit repair company charges monthly fees, those fees cannot be collected until after a month?s worth of services have been provided.

Keeping this requirement in mind is probably the most important thing you can do to avoid becoming a victim of a credit repair scam. Even today there are companies like Champion Credit Consulting and Credit Clean who will try to charge you $795 and $1223 before they have done anything to repair your credit.

2) Credit repair organizations cannot make incorrect or misleading statements

Preying on the naivety and lack of knowledge of people looking to improve their credit, many credit repair companies entice people with claims of improving their credit score 100 points in 60 days or removing bankruptcies from their credit reports. The truth is that while it is possible for each of these things to happen, no credit repair company can promise that they will.

In fact, no credit repair company can promise to remove anything from your credit reports because ultimately, it is up to the credit bureaus what items are listed on your reports. Disputing credit is not failsafe. There are cases where no matter what you do, a particular negative item will not be removed from your credit reports.

Any company that promises to increase your credit score or remove any negative items from your credit reports is violating the law. According to CROA, and the nature of the credit system, the best any credit repair company can do is promise to put forth a best effort. Just like in a court of law, a lawyer can promise to work as hard as they can, but they cannot promise that you will win over the jury.

3) Credit repair companies must inform you of your rights

The credit system is not easy and many people do not adequately understand their rights within the system. This lack of education makes it easy for con-artists to prey on the unaware.

So you do not get caught off-guard, credit repair organizations are required to inform all prospective customers of their right to order their own credit reports and their right to dispute the questionable information they contain. They are also required to inform you of your right to cancel your credit repair service within 3 days of signing up for no reason and with no penalty.

When signing up with a credit repair organization, CROA dictates that you should be presented with a disclosure statement titled “Consumer Credit File Rights Under State and Federal Law”. This statement describes the rights mentioned above.

CROA has changed the landscape in the credit repair industry and has been very effective in helping the FTC identify and prosecute shady credit repair organizations. Because of CROA, you can feel confident that your money will be well spent when you enlist the services of a legally compliant credit repair company.

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Filed Under: Credit Score

Credit Repair – Prepare, Know How, And Get Results

October 27, 2010 By shanu

Credit repair is almost an essential tool for credit survival. In recenet years, credit repair companies have experienced a surge in business that amounted to billions of dollars in annual revenue. A Consumer needs his or her credit repaired and a new credit repair companyopens up in hopes capturing a fraction of this bilion dollar industry. Keep in mind, that you do not need any professional license to start a credit repair company. All you need is a simple credit repair eBook or credit repair software and you can call yourself a qualified “Credit Repair Representative”. With that in mind, think about why you would hire someone to perform credit repair services on your behalf? It boils down to only two simple answers; Knowledge and Tme. We will discuss how to overcome these two obsticles in more depth as we illustarate to you how easy and timelesss this process can be.

By definition credit repair is the right of a consumer, under the fair credit reporting act, to dispute any credit negative or positive history items appearing in their credit reports. A credit bureau must investigate, and delete any errors at the request of the consumer. However if an item in dispute is found to be correct, though negative, then the information shall remain on their credit report. Negative items and judgements taken against the consumer shall remain on their credit report for 7 years while bankruptcies shall remain for 10 years. Sounds scary right? Well it is true. However, we are cretain that as you have read the definition of credit repair you missed some major yet hidden loopholes that can only be translated as an “advantage to you”.

The first advantage we have found is “Your right to Credit Repair”. By that we mean your right to dispute any item appearing on your credit report whether it’s a known error or unknown. Your right to credit repair is your right to understand your credit and correct the items that youthat you FEEL are inaccrate. Get the phrase “credit repair” out of your head and look at it from this angle: you are not perfroming credit repair; instead you are simply trying to better UNDERSTAND YOUR CREDIT. With that in mind, who is to tell you what you can or cannot understand? You have every right to NOT understand any if not all the items on your credit report. As a matter of fact, we want you to not understand every single negative item on your credit report. The more na

Filed Under: Credit Score

All Credit Repair Companies Are Not Created Equal

October 27, 2010 By shanu

With thousands of credit repair companies conducting business across the country, finding the right one can be difficult and intimidating but it is imperative that you take the time required to not only find a reputable one but also find one that has the knowledge, experience and ability to provide the level of service you expect and the optimal results you deserve. Your decision should not be impulsive. Choosing a bad credit repair company will leave you vulnerable and increases the probability that further damage will be caused to your personal credit file but on the other hand, choosing a good credit repair company has the potential to be one of the best financial decisions of your life by dramatically cleaning up your personal credit file and improving your credit score. There are numerous items to consider beyond price when making your decision. Recognizing the difference between price and value is imperative as seeking assistance from a company in the credit repair industry is almost always a case of, ?You get what you pay for?. The following paragraphs explain the four types of credit repair companies that make up the industry and what to expect from each.

Credit Repair Company Type 1:
The first type of credit repair company is typically a one-man show run out of a home office. In general, this type of company advertises extremely low rates for their service and will usually have unbelievable service guarantees to top it off. It is not uncommon for this type of credit repair company to be a complete scam and take the consumers? money without providing any service at all. Moreover, if you are dealing with a company that falls into this category you are lucky if the only thing you lose is your money and not your identity in the process. In this day and age, identity theft is happening on epidemic proportions. Unless you know the company to be reputable, you should think twice before handing over your personal identification information.

While all credit repair companies that fall into this category are not scams, it is very common for the individual running this type of company to be completely unaware of the compliance all credit repair organizations must adhere to. This company will typically use 3 or 4 standard dispute letters that are extremely generic and not intended to be used in every situation. Although using standard dispute letters may provide some level of positive results, their use also has the potential to further damage your credit. Moreover, the use of standard dispute letters usually only provides temporary results as the negative information removed from your personal credit file will most likely reappear on your credit file the next time it is reported by the creditor.

Credit Repair Company Type 2:
The second type of credit repair company generally appears to be much more legitimate. They will have a physical office but similar to credit repair company type 1, they only use the same standard dispute letters mentioned above. While typically not intending to operate illegally, compliance issues are usually overlooked. The largest difference between credit repair company type 1 and 2 is that the second usually makes use of an inexpensive software program that allows it to produce volume and handle clients on a much larger scale. The letters used are extremely generic and for that reason, will not get the best results possible. Although this type of credit repair company may do a large amount of business, they are not setup to handle consumers that have specific credit related problems. This type of credit repair company uses more of a cookie cutter approach.

The first two types of credit repair companies mentioned make up for more than 90% of the credit repair industry. Credit repair company type 3 and 4 are completely different and make up for less than 10% of the industry. It is very important to note the differences.

Credit Repair Company Type 3:
Not only is the third type of credit repair company usually compliant with the laws governing credit repair organizations, but it is also usually well versed in the U.S. Code used to dispute negative credit items on the consumers’ credit file. Using more than just standard dispute letters, this type of company can be much more effective than the first two. Because this type of credit repair company has such a good understanding of the U.S. Code related to credit, it is typical for this type of company to offer custom credit repair work to its clients. The ability to provide custom work for its clients allows this type of company to go above and beyond the level of service provided by the first two types of credit repair companies.

Credit Repair Company Type 4:
The forth type of credit repair company is very much like the third type in that it is usually compliant with federal law, extremely well versed in the U.S. Code required to be effective in the credit repair industry and typically also offers to perform custom dispute work for its clients. The largest difference between credit repair company type 3 and 4 is that credit repair company type 4 has attorneys on staff or is contracted with a law firm. Credit repair company type 4 will also usually be more expensive than the other three credit repair company types but will almost always be more effective. Not only can an attorney based credit repair company provide the best results possible, but a credit repair company that has attorneys on staff or is contracted with a law firm can also enforce the consumers’ rights should legal action be required to correct inaccurate items on a consumer’s personal credit file. Beyond that, by using an attorney based credit restoration company, the consumer can minimize the possibility that an item will be re-reported by a creditor as an attorney has the ability to take additional steps to block negative items from being re-reported on a consumer’s personal credit file. There are very few credit repair companies that fall into this category.

As you can see, it is not only important to find a credit repair company that is staffed with subject matter experts and has the ability to provide great results but it is also very important to find one that is compliant with the guidelines set forth by the federal government. Further, you should now understand the benefit of using a credit repair company that has attorneys on staff or is contracted with a law firm. Your credit report has more of an influence in determining your financial future than most anything else. You should not put your credit report in the hands of just anyone. Choose a credit repair company that is compliant, well versed in the related U.S. Code, staffed by subject matter experts and attorneys or employs the services of a law firm.

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Filed Under: Credit Score

Facts on Credit Repair and Pitfalls

October 26, 2010 By shanu

When it concerns your credit entry, it’s important to be sure that you’re doing everything you are able to from the very beginning in order to make it all work out for you finally. If you begin your adult life without any regard to how your credit will be bore upon by your activities, you’ll for certain be in the need of credit fixing. When it concerns needing poor credit repair, there’s noting more crucial then making sure you’re acquiring the correct advice for everything.

If you find that in the end you’re in need of some professional person help to attend of your bad credit repair needs then you would like to be sure that you browse around. This is to be sure that you finish up with a company that knows precisely what they are performing in order that you do not end up wasting away your time or income. You would like to be sure that the bad credit repair company is one that’s been around for a few a long time instead of a company that’s brand new and likely to make some errors that could cost you.

Whenever you prefer to do all of this yourself and learn how to fix bad credit on your own, then there’s numerous stuff that you’re going to have to address. Whether it is bad credit mortgage repair or bad credit from credit cards, there’s a good deal that you’ve to arrange to be sure that it is all attended of in a suitable manner. A good place to start learning everything you need to know is by reading different articles and magazines out there that are directed towards assisting people find their way out of debt.

Among the biggest things that you can have in life is bad credit. Without any credit or bad credit, there are a lot of crucial things that you’re not going to be capable tof doing, and you’ll actually not be able to have the life that you always dreamed of if you don’t have good credit score.

Whether you prefer to pay for a credit repair service or you are interested in an free bad credit repair service, there perhaps things that can be arranged to wipe off some bad marks on your register. In a few cases, but not all, creditors may offer you a deal and ask that if you bring your account statement current they’ll delete former marks on your credit. Whenever you are interested in seeing if your creditor will do this, merely ask. Free bad credit repair is going to be arduous to discover, as most companies want their revenue in order to pay for their overhead.

The first matter that you should do if you want to repair credit score is check into your own credit. You are able to get your credit score through your bank or other financial organisation, and you are able to also order it yourself online and get it in the mail or through e-mail. This is an significant step because if you would like to repair credit score you’re going to need to have a look at where you beginning from.

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Filed Under: Credit Score

Reasons to Seek Assistance From an Expert Realtor

October 25, 2010 By shanu

Property dealing is an intricate issue, it needs meticulous planning as well as efficient handling of legal matters in order to make the dealings legal and secured from all aspects. It is definitely not possible to know all the legal intricacies for a common person while dealing a property matter; therefore, the assistance of an expert realtor is needed to make a property deal hassle–free and legal. For example, if you are intended to conduct a property deal in Louisville or in Lafayette, you should seek the professional assistance of an expert Louisville or a Lafayette realtor and it is best found from online an available Louisville Colorado Realtor list.

An expert realtor knows the pros and cons of the real estate market he is operating in. Therefore while buying or selling a property a realtor can suggest the best possible way to profit on the deal. A realtor is the best person who knows all the intricacies of property dealing; therefore, he can plan to execute the deal by mitigating all the legal and formal hassles according to the requirements. This saves time, money, and energy of the client and they can enjoy their purchase or sale deal with better shape of mind.

While selling a property, it is not easy to find a prospective buyer. On the other hand a real buyer will definitely go for a realtor’s reference for purchasing a property because of his industry knowledge. The primary arrangement of a property selling is to bring the property in buyers’ knowledge. Unless you will utilize the coverage and reach of a reputed real estate agent of your locality, it is not possible to avail maximum exposure for the said property. Hence the assistance and suggestion of an expert realtor is expected in all aspects of a property selling. For an example, if you have a property in Boulder, you should contact a Boulder Realtor for professional help and relevant suggestion.

On the other hand, for buying a property one should seek the expertise and professional assistance of a trade expert realtor. For example if you wish to purchase a property at Louisville area you have to seek assistance from Louisville Realtors. You can overview lots of properties placed on web ready for sale and these property listings are available only with realtor’s websites with all initial description of the said properties. Online browsing for the realtor’s website is great way to sort out some best reference of purchasable properties. If you like a property initially, for further negotiation you need to contact the said realtor and ask for his assistance to complete the said deal.

There is another situation where we should always consult a realtor for his suggestions. It is the case of purchasing foreclosure homes. Superior Realtors who are members of Superior Realtor Association in Wisconsin are the best resources to advice on the purchase transaction of foreclosure loan. Therefore if you have decided to purchase a foreclosure home from a Boulder Realtor, or Louisville Realtor, or Lafayette Realtor, if your realtor is not enlisted in Superior realtors’ list, you should not forget to consult any of the advice form of Superior realtors to know better about purchase deals of foreclosure homes.

-By: Wivell George Wireman

The need for Boulder Realtor or some Louisville Realtor can be found at here.

Filed Under: Blog

Top 5 Tips on How to Find a Good Realtor

October 24, 2010 By shanu

Finding a good realtor is tough. There are billions of real estate agents listed online making the decision difficult. So how do you know who is reputable and who isn’t? What makes a good realtor? Before you dive into the process of finding a successful realtor follow these five easy tips, then start your search. With these tips as a guide, then it shall be a cinch to find the realtor suitable for you.

1. Find a realtor that knows the area. There are many realtors who have no idea about the area they are selling. They are not familiar with the neighborhood, territory, the pros and cons making it difficult for the realtor to provide a true insight regarding a certain region. Many realtors did not grow up in the area they are showing, and relay generic information you are able to discover yourself online. Therefore, find a realtor that grew up and/or lives in the same area. A realtor active in the community you desire to live is able to supply ample knowledge regarding traffic, driving routes, if the area is suitable for kids, schooling system, parking, shopping, etc…

2. Verify the realtor’s reputation. No matter if you are searching for commercial or residential real estate, you should verify the realtor is in good standing with the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Also, check the local chapter of the NAR ensuring the realtor is legitimate, doesn’t have any negative marks against him/her, and is a stand-up real estate agent. You do not wish to begin your home search without this essential step done first. In addition, ask for references. Ask to speak with past clients. If the realtor is successful, then it should not be a problem to ask past buyers/sellers regarding a specific agent.

3. Choose a realtor with internet, mobile and interactive communication capabilities. Realtors today utilize the internet, cell phones, emails, and other various accessible devices. You do not wish to be limited during your search. Searching for a home takes time and money. Thus, choose a realtor that uses all methods of communication. For if you are out of town and do not wish to put a halt to the house hunting, then a realtor capable of sending you interactive video, photos, listings, etc…directly to your email and/or cell phone is key to the progression of the search.

4. Find a realtor that is a MLS user. MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service (MLS). It is a tool real estate professionals use to find residential and commercial locations for clients. MLS is able to breakdown searches by school districts, cities, zip codes, streets and more. You are able to make it as detailed or as a broad of a search as you like and MLS helps you achieve this goal.

5. Choose a realtor that is accessible to you even when appointments aren’t scheduled. It is a tough market for realtors right now and for a realtor to remain on top, then he/she should be accessible via cell phone during reasonable hours of the day and/or early evening. Every realtor wishing to be the best at what they do understands it is imperative to be reachable after 5 P.M. Thus, find a realtor compatible with your hours and make sure he/she is able to be reached even if not during traditional bank hours.

-By: Tony Mandarich

So keep in mind when searching for a realtor to refer to these top 5 tips. It will help you find a successful realtor near you.

Filed Under: Blog

What to Look For in a Realtor

October 23, 2010 By shanu

Buying a house, selling a house, or just thinking of doing either often requires the help of a realtor. This seems simple enough; after all, the faces of realtors are plastered on bus benches all over town. Still, finding a realtor and finding a good realtor are very different things. Before you hire anyone, there are certain things you need to look for specifically. Consider hiring the following:



Someone You’re Comfortable With: There are certain professions where trust is of the utmost importance. Lawyers, doctors, and stock brokers, for instance, all must be trusted by their clients. Included in this list is realtors. A good realtor is someone who you know will do his or her best for you. There should be nothing shady about them, they should have a proven track record, and they should have a demeanor that makes you comfortable. If you can’t voice your concerns and desires to your realtor in a candid manner, you better get a new one.



Someone Local: California might be filled with some of the most well known, most effective realtors in the business. But, if you are looking for a place in Idaho, no California realtor should be hired. You want a realtor who knows the area like the back of his hand: he knows what school districts are good, he knows the best hospitals, he knows the neighborhoods that are up-and-coming and those that are laden with crime. Hiring a realtor who knows his stuff helps you know you’re getting the best service.



Someone Who Wants What you Want: Realtors work on commission and this can lead to them pushing you towards a more expensive house when the cheaper one would suffice. They are, after all, salespeople. If your realtor appears to be trying to make a big sale, or seems to be trying to get you to buy something you don’t really want, he’s not being a very good realtor. A realtor who asks you questions, and focuses solely on what you want, however, is a realtor worth keeping.



Someone Working Full Time: These days, it seems that almost everyone and their mom is a realtor. Some people do this for supplemental income, some do it as a hobby, and some do it as a full time job. The latter group is often the most effective. By hiring a full time realtor, you help assure that their search for your new home is full time as well.



Someone Who Doesn’t Have a Million and One Clients to Also Serve: Zealous realtors are good: they are eager, they are aggressive, and they are dedicated. Overzealous ones, however, might compromise their effectiveness by having more clients than they can count. This doesn’t mean you should be your realtor’s sole client, but if he is too busy to give you attention and show you houses, or you have a personal relationship with his answering machine, you might want to upgrade to a realtor who has downgraded his clientele.

-By: Jennifer Jordan

Jennifer Jordan is an editor and staff writer for http://www.thecatskillfarms.com. A real estate investor, she is up-to-date on the latest trends of the housing market. She even sometimes tells people that those trends were based on her ideas.

Filed Under: Blog

Why You Should Work With a Land Realtor

October 23, 2010 By shanu

I let out a big sigh when one of my students called me. He talked with a landowner who lived in Michigan but owned a parcel of land in Florida. The landowner was interested in selling but said that first he was going to call a Realtor in Florida to determine the value of the property.

So why did I sigh? My experience says that they are going to contact the wrong person and get bad advice (mostly in regards to price). Ultimately the deal will fall through.

Most sellers don’t understand that they cannot contact just ANY Realtor to help them make an informed decision. They are best served to contact a Realtor who is experienced in land. It is the same dynamic if I am considering buying a self storage complex. I don’t call ANY Realtor – I find one who understands how to value commercial properties.

Sounds simple doesn’t it? I have had too many experiences in negotiating with landowners where the deal was derailed by a Realtor who didn’t have experience valuing land. This isn’t a knock against Realtors in general.

Let’s face it – to value land in this economy is tricky at best. It is imperative to find a land professional that knows the local area and is familiar with land that has recently sold in there. So if I am going to do a deal in Alabama, I am calling a Realtor who is experienced in land statewide as well as locally. I am not going to call a land Realtor in Georgia or North Carolina because land in Alabama is unique in regards to terrain, demand, price per acre, etc.

Why am I such a big fan of land Realtors? They are a critical person in the process to understand land values and whether a parcel is a good value or not.

I cut my teeth in land when I was an office manager at a land brokerage (I am an investor not a Realtor). While I was there, about 60% of the buyers bought land sight unseen. It was because they were looking at land like stock. They were TRUSTING that the land Realtors at the office evaluated the property correctly.

My boss was the stereotypical land broker. He came to work dressed in his cowboy hat and boots and had a drawl that this city boy could sometimes not understand. But he KNEW his area and was passionate about finding only the best deals for his buyers.

But the stereotype of the land Realtor is changing. With the advent of the Internet, land Realtors still know their area well. But now they have evolved into Internet real estate specialists creating high quality marketing pieces for websites and email requests.

It is my opinion that we are not going to have enough experienced land Realtors to service the upcoming demand for all land types. With the stock market and economy in continued decay, more and more investors are going to turn to land as one safe haven to place their money.

Investors are going to have to trust an experienced land Realtor’s opinion on finding good values. Are you one of them?

I have been a part of over 600 land deals and virtually every transaction has been closed with the help of a land Realtor. I would not turn to anyone else!

So how does one find a land Realtor in the area where you hope to buy? Here are a couple of suggestions:

1. Go to www.rliland.com and search through their free database of land Realtors. Look for “Find a Land Consultant” tab on the site to begin your search.

2. Go on the Internet and select the state and county that you are searching and see which Realtor is listing land parcels for sale in that area. Usually they will have enough experience in land to assist you.

3. Sometimes I call a large brokerage office by phone and ask for the land specialist in their mix of Realtors. Unfortunately I have had some Realtors misrepresent themselves so you have to be careful to interview them to determine if they are the right person. (I have a chapter in my manual on “How to Find the Right Realtor” that goes into how to interview for a land Realtor to determine if they are right person for your real estate need).

One of the best decisions you can ever make when purchasing land is to find a land Realtor to serve your needs.

-By: Russell D Ward

Learn how to develop a competitive edge as a real estate investor by applying the principles Russell Ward writes about in his Home Study Course, Vacant Land Guide – How to Buy Vacant Land at Wholesale Prices. The turn-key program teaches how to make $5K to $10K per month quick turning small parcels of land and $50K to $100K per deal on larger tracts of land in just 10-15 hours per week!

Filed Under: Blog

8 Tips to Help You Hire a Good Realtor to Sell Your Home

October 23, 2010 By shanu

Are you looking for a Realtor to represent you in the sale of your home? Here are 8 tips that will help you make a good decision on choosing a Realtor.

1. Business decision, not a personal one

Selling your home is not an easy task in today’s market. It is challenging and you need someone that is up to the task. Use a full time real estate professional with a proven track record. Think twice before using a family member or friend who has not sold a home since 2005. This may be the largest transaction of your life so make it a business decision. It is best to hire good representation from day one.

2. Ask for a referral

Ask your friends and family members to refer you to a good Realtor. Someone you know has probably used a good real estate agent. Ask around and get a list of good Realtors to interview. They will probably tell you a few not to use.



3. Interview Realtors

Most Realtors hate this tip. Meet with more than one agent and have them do a listing presentation for you. This usually consists of their marketing plan, backgrounds, background on their brokerage and a valuation of your property.



4. Hire the biggest producer?

Don’t assume that the highest producer is the best Realtor or gives the best service. Would you rather work with a good Realtor who has forty listings or a good Realtor that has ten? You probably will end up with better service with the Realtor that spread between only 10 listings. That is not always the case but this is what you can uncover when you interview them. The larger producer may sell ten homes between $2 million and $3 million a year. If your home is worth $300,000 would you rather use that Realtor or one who sells twenty homes a year priced between $300,000 and $400,000?

5) You get what you pay for

I am just as frugal as the next guy. However, often times you get what you pay for. The market dictates what Realtors charge for services. It is a negotiable item and there are discount brokerages out there. From the outside it appears that Realtor make way too much money. 6% of $400,000 is $24,000. That is a lot of money. However, when you break it down and spread it around it isn’t as much as you think. That commission is usually split between the listing agent and selling agent. The Realtors have to split with their brokers. Brokers have to pay their staff, rent, advertising, light bill, utilities, etc. Promoting your listing to find a buyer costs money so there are expenses like photography, advertising, direct mailers, signs, websites etc. The agents belong to one or several Realtor Associations. We have to pay dues to all of those Associations. To promote the listing on the Sarasota MLS we have to pay dues to access the MLS. The expenses go on. Realtors probably don’t make as much money as you think.

I have a friend in the business who says, “If you want to pay peanuts you end up working with monkeys.”



6) Don’t let the Realtor buy your listing

This is fairly common occurrence. Realtors are fighting to get listings and they could tell you an unrealistic price for your home just so they list with you. Realtors either know that they are doing this or they are just horrible at pricing property. Make any agent you interview substantiate their valuation with market facts, data and trends. Often times, the Realtor with the lowest valuation is your best choice because they are most honest or most in tune with the market.

7) Interview a Realtor that specializes in your area

Some Realtors only work a small niche. Those agents typically know their niche or market area more than their competitors. They are good to have on your side. However, the process of valuing and selling real estate is essentially the same in all segments of market with slight variations. You don’t have to hire a specialist or niche Realtor.

8) Be Leery

Be cautious of Realtors who tell you everything you want to hear. I would rather be told the truth versus what I wanted to hear only to find out the truth later. Some Realtors are total “yes” people and lead you believe what you want to believe just to get your listing.

Keep these tips in mind and they will help you make a wise choice in hiring a Realtor. Selling a home is not rocket science but you can waste a lot of time hiring the wrong agent. The way home prices have been falling listing with the wrong agent can cost you a large amount of money.

-By: Marc Rasmussen

Marc Rasmussen
Realtor in Sarasota, Florida
http://www.LuxurySarasotaRealEstate.com/siesta-key-real-estate.php

Filed Under: Blog

Finding an Outstanding Realtor

October 22, 2010 By shanu

Your home is probably your most valuable asset that you will ever have to decide who will earn the right to represent the sale or the purchase of your property. It could be an overwhelming experience to decide who is the most deserving to earn your trust out of the 5,465 licensed realtors in Calgary. Just because your friends said that he is the best realtor you should make sure to do your own due diligence. After all, your friends aren’t the ones who will be managing your personal finances. An even more important question to ask ourselves is to understand the reasons why we should have a realtor to look after our best interest before we begin the hunt for one.

Have you ever tried to cut your own hair? If you did, I am sure it wasn’t a pretty experience. Realtors are trained professionals and are continuously mandated to upgrade their knowledge to help to better serve their clients every day. It’s not only the knowledge that a realtor will bring to the table when working with you, but a realtor can save you considerable amount of time by doing most of the leg-work for you… at no direct cost to you.

In today’s booming market condition it’s not uncommon for sellers to try the For Sale by Owner market before considering hiring a realtor. Chances are good that you will be able to succeed at selling on your own. However statistics show that in most cases sellers ended up selling their properties for much less than what it would have cost them to hire a professional. Weather you are buying or selling a piece of real estate it’s extremely important to have a professionally prepared comparable market analysis done for you to protect your investment. It’s also as important to complete the paper work properly. Once the ink dries on the paper it’s hard to make changes to it and regrets could easily come by.

Realtors have access to the MLS (Multiple Listing Service). Having the convenience of being able to tap into the single largest source of homes available on the market is not the only benefit that you will receive. Realtors are legally bounded by a strict Code of Ethics and high Standard of Business Practice as well as Agency obligations to represent your best interest. In a nut shell what this means to you is that all the information available on MLS is guaranteed to be accurate by the listing Realtor and if there were any defects known about the property or other facts that might affect your decision making process you will find out about it up front.

Regardless if you are buying or selling a property, it could take a bit of time to find a quality realtor. The relationship that you will establish will play a key part in your future investment. It is well worth the effort to work your way through many potentials to find that “Outstanding Realtor”, but when you find one, they will be worth their weight in gold.

The most successful way to begin your realtor hunt is to conduct subtle but effective interviews in person. The purpose of your first interview should be to discover each other’s needs, expectations and to discover the future steps to be taken by both of you. Your meeting with the potential realtor should be structured to find out how effective they might be finding properties or selling your existing property. You will need to be able to conclude if the realtor is focused on a potential long term relationship or does he feel ‘desperate’ to sell the next house. If you feel a little bit pressured, you might be tempted to choose to work with someone else because the realtor doesn’t understand the word ‘relationship’. The other side of the coin is you want to find someone who isn’t too set back. You want to make sure that he will be actively doing what you agree upon and that he will have the time and energy to complete your sale or purchase. Working with an aggressive, motivated realtor is good when they are representing you. They will be able to uncover as many opportunities as possible. You want someone who is enthusiastic, along with competence and consideration for a long term relationship.

Timing and creativity seems to be an ongoing issue today. Like most of us, we could have days when everything just seems to be piling up and we find it challenging to follow up on our promises. However, for most of the time, we should be organized and well prepared in advance for those crazy days. Find out ahead of the game what is your realtor’s policy on returning your calls and what kind of systems does he have in place to serve you better.

Education and knowledge with experience will be the key elements of a successful real estate transaction. You should be also asking your realtor if he is taking any advanced training to better serve his clients or what is he doing that is different from the rest of realtors? The best way for you to prepare for your meeting is to sit down prior to the meeting and write yourself a set of questions that are important to you and discuss them at the time of your interview. More likely a well prepared realtor will do the same thing. The most effective way we can help each other is by communicating openly.

Once you feel confident and comfortable about choosing a realtor to work with you, don’t be afraid to commit to him. At the end of the day a realtor will be spending a considerable amount of time working for you away from his family. In exchange for his time and for his up front miscellaneous costs associated with serving you, it’s only fair to him to be able to get paid for his efforts.

Weather you are considering purchasing your first home or perhaps you have done it many times in the past, you owe it to yourself to further explore the potentials of maximizing the value of your largest investment. The quality of any relationship that you will ever establish will be a direct correlation to the amount of time and energy you invest with that person.

-By: Joeseph Samson

For information about the Calgary real estate market , visit JoeSamson.com an excellent resource for Evergreen real estate

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