If the Shoe Fits, Wear It

I f th e S h o e F i ts , W e a r I t

Becky Schenk, wife to Raymond Schenk, was born and raised in Burleson County and is a mother of three children, Austin, Alyssa and Easton. She loves reading, listening to spiritual or motivational speakers, networking and volunteering. Becky is a Licensed Realtor at ORO Realty in Caldwell and may be reached at 979-587-0059 or becky@ororealtytx.com. Becky would love to hear from you and receive feedback on her writings.

Finding a real estate agent can be almost like finding a physician or dentist you feel comfortable with. If you’re a new home buyer, you’re about to make one of the biggest decisions of your life, and you want to be sure you have a confident agent able to walk you through the process. If you are an experienced buyer or seller, you have expectations or require certain criteria from an agent who will walk alongside you, and is able to answer the questions you may have. So how do you find your real estate agent? Do you go online and research every llicensed agent in your area? Do you ask your friends and family for a good referral?

Besides the obvious skills a real estate agent should have like market knowledge and great reviews, here are 3 important skills relators call the Three P’s of Professionalism that can help you decide when you begin your search to “interview” an agent.

The first one is punctuality. Punctuality is an etiquette. A person who is punctual shows respect for your time, and others as well. If the agent is going to be late, letting you know or letting the other agent know should be expected. Time is of the essence in real estate. Deadlines and coordinating schedules for title companies, home inspectors, lenders and other components in a transaction must be made on time, or your transaction will not go as smoothly. Make sure the agent calls when he/she says, or lets you know when you’ll be gotten back to.

Presentation is the second one. You are of high value. So you want to work with someone who recognizes that, and works in a way that is suitable for your personality. This should be an easy engagement where you feel comfortable asking questions, and that he or she is able to present the answers to you, timely and respectfully. Make sure your real estate agent speaks clearly and has good knowledge of the current market. Your agent will need to know your needs as well. Presentation is not just about how the agent looks but also how one presents oneself in speech over the phone, in person and in emails. The realtor should be to the point, describing how to best work for you in helping with the sale of your property, searching for properties and negotiating. Realtors should want a smooth transaction from the start to the end.

Third is the most important quality of a professional agent, perseverance. An agent will show that he/she will deliver the results promised by helping you with your real estate needs. Perhaps the agent was unable to focus on you when you first called. But were you told when you were called back at a certain time? Did the agent call when he/she said? Perseverance shows when the agent is dutifully and diligently showing extra hard work through emails, calls, and texts.

These 3 P’s of Professionalism should be taken into account when you decide you need a professional to help with your real estate needs. Your experience should feel seamless, pleasant from beginning to end.