How to Select Realtor in Houston?

[City Love]

A buyer's agent is a must. Not just because I'm a Realtor, but because real estate is like any other profession. Whether its accounting, law, financial, health, anything really. Almost all the information to make an informed decision is out there and available online. At times it's easy to make sense of it, and other times it's not. The issue isn't whether it's available or not though, it's compiling the information and making sense of it all where a good professional is worth the money and time in any profession including real estate.

A good agent can let you know if there are issues you aren't aware of with a house, even with your loan. Negotiate a proper offer, and use their experience in trying to obtain the best possible deal. They can alert you if there is paperwork/disclosures that are needed, but not yet signed. They can run fairly accurate comps to make sure your new purchase will actually appraise and not under appraise which will kill the deal. They can keep deadlines met so you close on time. Put you in contact with quality inspectors, lenders, contractors, insurance agents, etc. They can properly gauge a home to make sure it qualifies for your specific type of financing(especially important with foreclosures and short sales.)

There's really so much! Sounds like such a sales pitch, but it's good for people to know the value that is brought by a good agent.. :/ We aren't all just sleazy sales people.

[FatherofTwinGirls]

Thanks for the good info guys. I've been out of the country this past week, but game on for the house hunt. Target close date is before Holidays.

Areas that I have been interested in are the Champion area and Copperfield areas. I'm looking to buy more the neighborhood and school (CyFair/Klein) than the house itself, but of course the house is important as well.

I've been asking around work and interestingly enough many have given me negative experiences with thier past realtors (more often than not), so finding one that through referral hasn't worked as of yet, but there are plenty more people in the office to ask, so we'll see. I do think this is the best way to find a good and hardworking realtor, because you have leverage with him/her because the referral (don't want to loose potential repeat business). I'll keep working that angle.

Any additional advice will find welcoming ears. Thanks

[marklbucla]

When selecting a realtor, how reliable are the reviews on HAR.com? It looks like everyone with reviews gets close to 5s on everything. Does that mean that those without reviews could have deleted all of them? Could the reviews be fraudulent?

[crone]

As far as reviews in HAR.com. The agent must permit reviews and cannot add or delete. I would not use an agent who would not permit the review.

[cheryjohns]

Originally Posted by marklbucla

When selecting a realtor, how reliable are the reviews on HAR.com? It looks like everyone with reviews gets close to 5s on everything. Does that mean that those without reviews could have deleted all of them? Could the reviews be fraudulent?

We can either allow HAR to send out ALL the surveys, or have to opt totally out of the program. We don't get to cherry-pick the ones that go out and are published by HAR. When the MLS is changed to reflect a closed transaction, HAR sends out the survey within a day or two.

I am guessing that those that get less than 5's eventually opt out and have them pulled.