'Newspg5' by The Newscaster - Nature Coast News

PAGE 4 September 26, 2007

The Newscaster/Nature Coast News

Real Estate Today

When Picking An Agent Ask For A Resume

A Guest Commentary by Darryl Diamond

your next agent. If you consider bumping up

to a more complicated commercial property

ake sure you hire a real estate pro-

transaction, I would make sure my commer-

fessional that you trust. Sounds simple

cial agent had at least 20 years

enough, but you would be surprised how

experience with expertise in the

many people march into any old office with a

commercial real estate area.

pretty sign out front, and hire an agent on the

Again, why not get the

spur of the moment to buy or sell their valu-

top agent in all ways including

able property without knowing hardly any-

many years in the business. As

thing about them.

an example of what a profes-

This trust we are talking about is two

sional commercial agent can do, in 1988 my

fold in that you first need to trust that this

dad was purchasing a 66 acre commercial par-

agent will put your best interest above every-

cel of waterfront land on the inter-coastal

thing else, including their commission. Find-

waterway in Vero Beach.

ing agents that put their clients best interests

After investigating the county

above their commission seems to be harder,

records on this parcel I informed my dad that

and harder to find these days, but they are

the previous sale price was only $150k just 6

out there. Then you need to trust that they

months prior, and the county topo maps

have the proficiency to give you the right

showed this property having about 50% wet-

advice.

lands. This valuable information gleaned from

One way to find an agent you can

my investigations helped my Dad negotiate

trust is to ask your friends who they have

the asking price of $450k down considerably.

used in the past. The other way to guarantee

Today there is even more informa-

a good agent is to ask for a resume of the

tion available on many properties, and your

agents credentials. This resume should in-

experienced agent will be able to help you in

clude how many years in the business, what

many ways to gather and examine this infor-

education attained, and one or two of their

mation.

past references. With dozens of agents to

The last type of property purchase

select from, my advise is "get yourself a good

involves the investor buyer. I would pick an

one". This part always gets me into conflict

agent that has many years experience work-

with some people, but if I was looking for an

ing with investors, and a new twist on this

agent to assist me in a residential transaction,

type of property is to ask if this agent is an

I would hire an agent that had at least 10 years

investor them selves. It is a fact that inves-

experience. Why not? If I have many agents

tors end up knowing much more than any

to pick from why would I use one with a couple

agent just sitting in an office trying to list and

of years experience when the one with 5 times

sell other peoples property. The good inves-

that experience is going to be the "same price".

tor buyers brokers usually call them selves

The only way I would use a newbie

"investor consultants" as they should if they

agent is if they have in their resume that their

have the proper experience and expertise.

office manager or broker works with them as a

Please be aware that these top com-

team to review all negotiations. I feel that even

mercial agents sometimes charge by the hour

though a newbie agent may be able to stumble

for their "consulting services". So the best

through a particular transaction, you can be

chance to have a smooth real estate transac-

confident that your long term agent will have

tion is to check out any prospective agents

learned important lessons over 10 years ago

for their back round, their areas of expertise,

that the newbie agents will not learn for an-

their education, years in the business, and

other 5 to 10 years from now. Believe me in

email your news to: newscast@atlantic.net

any other qualifications that you feel is im-

this market the strong agents that also have

portant before hiring them to assist you in

many years experience will rise to the top while

the biggest purchase of your life. I'll see you

many other of the other agents are starting to

Realty

around "The Campus".

go back to their previous 9 to 5 steady pay

Darryl Diamond and "The Diamond

check jobs.

Team" are available for all of your real estate

So make sure you get that resume,

Sally Price, Realtor

needs. Please call us at 352-447-4442

and check out the references before hiring

Email: pricesally@yahoo.com

CELL(352) 302-8556 OFFICE(352) 447-2526

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