selling A HOME

Recommendations for Choosing your Local Real Estate Agent

As a prospective homeowner, selecting the right real estate agent in Fair Lawn, Saddle Brook, Elmwood Park, Paramus, Glen Rock or anywhere else in Bergen County is critical. Your RE/MAX REALTORŪ will keep you abreast of this rapidly changing industry, swings in market conditions, and the availability and demand for property inventory. Your agent also guards your interests when facing tough negotiations or confusing contracts.

The safest way to hire a strong Fair Lawn real estate agent is to interview more than one specialist. Here are a few tips to guide you:

  • Identify at least three Fair Lawn, Elmwood Park and Saddle Brook real estate professionals.
  • Get on line, Type on Google or Bing: “homes for sale in Fair Lawn”, or in Elmwood Park, Glen Rock, Saddle Brook etc… Look at the first page of the results and identify the realtors that appear at the top of the search; look at their website, try to send an email and see how long it takes them to get back to you. If they have a “PUSH TO TALK” button, click and wait for a phone call. Their response time will indicate how aggressive they will be responding to buyers for your home, or how quickly they will notify you, as a buyer, about new homes in the market.
  • Look around your neighborhood. Is the same for-sale sign in every other yard? Call this agent and arrange an interview
  • Use the Internet. You're already on the remax-NJ.com website. It's easy to search for a Fair Lawn real estate agent using our “Find An Agent” feature.
  • Ask a neighbor or friend who helped them buy their home. Which real estate agent in Bergen County would they hire if they decided to buy again?
  • Interview the real estate professionals you have identified. Having a conversation with the person is a good way to find out if your personalities and goals match. Here are things you want to ask:
  • “FULL TIMER vs. PART TIMER” You will have the best chances finding the right home if you work with a full-time agent, not simply with a seasonal agent. Full-time agents are usually members of the National Association of Realtors. They are committed financially, educationally and professionally to being an expert in the real estate industry.
  • “How many transactions did you have last year?” You don’t want to use a realtor who is not active; a Fair Lawn Realtor that waits for business to come to him/her instead of going out and getting it, will perform just like that when selling your home or helping you find a home–waiting for the business to fall into their lap.
  • "How often will you notify me of new listings?" In some Bergen County markets, houses enter the market and sell within the first hour. You need an agent who is serious about finding a home you'll love. Buyers should expect to hear from their agent whenever a home matching their description appears on the market.
  • "How often can I expect to hear from you?" Just because your dream house isn't on the market yet doesn't mean you won't have questions. Be sure to work out an arrangement with your REALTOR from the beginning.
  • "How quickly can I expect you to return phone calls, text massages or emails?" You don't want to be ignored. If the agent doesn't have a callback policy ("You'll hear back from me within two hours, or, 30 minutes, or, before the day ends"), you may not get the service you expect.
  • "Are you a full-time agent?" "Hobby agents" aren't as capable of meeting your expectations because their attention is divided by other responsibilities. Limit your search to full-time real estate agents.
  • "Will you give me your honest feedback?" Avoid "yes-men." If you can't find your dream house because it simply doesn't exist at the price you've quoted, you need more options. When you find a strong real estate agent, you get more out of each meeting.
  • "How long have you actively worked in the area?" While the answer to this question shouldn't necessarily be a deal-breaker, a REALTOR who has worked in the area a long time may be more aware of properties that match your description.
  • Compare interview notes. Think about each agent, and decide which one is right for you. You should choose someone aggressive, but who doesn't make you feel anxious or pressured. Someone that will tell you the reality of the market, not stories in order to capture your business.
  • Ask for references from your RE/MAX REALTORŪ. This shouldn't be a big deal; it's a last-step investigation that could confirm or reject your impression of the agent.
  • Select a strong negotiator. Ask your Fair Lawn, Elmwood Park, Saddle Brook REALTOR whether he or she has ever been in a tough negotiation and how he or she negotiated a fair price.