There are a lot of Realtors. I’ve heard it said that, if you call out in a movie theater “Is there a doctor in the house?” you may get a reply. If you yell out in the same theater “Is there a Realtor in the house?” you will probably have a stampede of Realtors trying to talk to you first.
Think about it. Do you have a friend, neighbor, relative or co-worker who either is, or knows a Realtor? If your answer is “No”, you are in the minority. Everybody either knows, or knows someone who knows a Realtor. So when you are ready to hire a Realtor, it’s easy to choose someone you know or is recommended by someone you know. But it this the right choice?
Maybe. Or maybe not.
At any given time, there are around 8500 to 9500 Realtors in Monmouth and Ocean counties. That’s a lot of Realtors. But let’s look at the numbers. Of those 9000 or so Realtors, usually about 4000 do none or one sales in a year. Another about 4000 sell two or three homes per year. A Realtor cannot survive on that volume of sales, unless they are all in the $5 million dollar price range. So these Realtors either don’t need the income and treat it as a hobby, or they are simply not good at being a Realtor. And I think you’ll find that the few sales they do make, their client is probably a relative or neighbor.
So – is being a relative or neighbor a good reason to hire someone to help you find a home or sell yours?
Not in my book. I would want a successful Realtor. Someone who practices real estate to provide their living. Someone who works full time at being a Realtor. Someone with a documented history of being a success at selling real estate. Buying or selling a home is not something to trust to a relative or “someone you know”, unless they are indeed a successful Realtor.
So, before you hire a Realtor, check them out. Ask a few questions. Find if they work full time at real estate. How many homes do they sell per year? How long have they been on the job? What is their advertising policy? What markets do they specialize in?
If they work part time or if they sell less than ten homes per year, you may want to look for someone with a little more experience. Maybe you should talk to us – Bunny and Art Reiman. We sell between 25 and 40 homes per year, and have been in the business for a long time. We can be reached at 732-616-6226, or visit our web sites, www.BunnyandArt.com www.55PlusInOcean.com www.55PlusinMonmouth.com