cbeauchamp

By all indicators, 2025 should be a great year for sellers to sell and buyers to buy! Whether you are a first time buyer, a repeat buyer, a seller looking to downsize or upsize or an investor needing a good investment, there will be opportunities. The economists predict an increase in transactions, which equates to more opportunities for all!

For most of us, buying a home is the most expensive investment we will make. Selling a home is selling our largest, most critical asset. In most fields, and real estate especially, if you are not an expert yourself, you need a guide – a REALTOR® – who meets basic common sense criteria.

Criteria #1:

Choose a REALTOR® local to the area you’re looking to buy in or the area you are selling in. Someone who helps buyers buy and sellers sell homes like the one you want to buy or sell.

Many REALTORS® will tell you they don’t need to be “local” to assist you due to the data available in our Multiple Listing Service and the information they and their clients can find online. Since our licenses are issued by the state, we can (legally) help buyers and sellers throughout the entire state. As long as we don’t cross an ethical line, this is true. However, I am a licensed Maryland REALTOR®, but if I were to buy a house in Ocean City – I’m going to hire an Ocean City agent to help me!

Criteria #2:

Find a REALTOR® with experience. For buyers and sellers, true experience means the agent has earned a reputation for professionalism. Experience is enhanced by education: Agents have an abundance of educational opportunities at their fingertips.

For buyers, experience means the agent has sold homes to the type of buyer you are, and can tell you what issues may arise during a tour of the home and how to navigate from offer to closing.

For sellers, experience means instinctively knowing market values and how to illustrate how that market value is determined. Experience means the agent has the pulse of the market, and a strategy specialized for the type of market you’re selling in. Experience means knowing how to manage issues.

Criteria #3:

Check out the REALTOR®’s Marketing!

Sellers want to know what the agent will do to market their home. An absolute must have, in my opinion: Professional photos!! Quickly becoming “must-haves” are the add ons like floor plans, video tours, aerial photos and glossy brochures. Look at a copy of some of their published MLS listings and make sure those listings are complete, and the remarks descriptive and easy to read.

For both sellers and buyers – check out the agent’s website. Can you easily find contact information for the agent? Is it professional and informative?

Criteria #4:

Trust your instincts! Find an agent you click with, someone you know you will be able to rely on throughout the transaction.

Criteria #5:

Ask about terms and commission.This is a key “ask” at any buyer or seller consultation. Terms and costs are important for both buyers and sellers to know and understand.

Agents should not only discuss commission and normal buyer and seller costs, they should provide an example of a Seller closing cost “Net Sheet” or a Buyer closing cost “Worksheet” so there is a broader understanding of all costs associated with buying and selling. In addition, the agent should review and explain the Buyer Agency Agreement and the Listing Agreement.

If you are looking to buy or sell real estate in our Four-County Mount Airy market, you will have a wide variety of local REALTORS® to choose from! If you’re buying, we hope for the lowest possible price with the strictest of terms and if you’re selling, we hope for the highest possible price with no contingencies!