Flathead Valley Real Estate Blog

Interview the Agent!

Chris is a top pick.......for sure~
Go Chris!

I am not trying to shed a negative light on the author of this post, however, I feel the public at large could use some REAL facts about Real Estate and not just a Pat answer or a blog entry that serves the main purpose of promoting that Realtor and does not provide real, honest information.  Not to say that the Blogger does not think it is good information, he simply may not know.

I am not commenting here to promote my services.  I am a Real Estate Agent but PLEASE don’t call me to Sell Your Real Estate.  With Internet Marketing you CAN sell your real estate without me. I am commenting here to Educate you.

When you are considering a Realtor to List your Real Estate for sale, make sure that you understand that THEY work for you.  THEY need YOU.  Realtors tend to make you, the real estate Seller feel as if THEY know more than you do.  We go to school for ONE Week to get a real estate license in the State of Montana. Realtors, most likely, do not know MORE about selling real estate than you do.  THEY simply went to the school and joined the MLS (Club) and now they feel they are more qualified than you to sell your home.  Folks, NO ONE is more qualified to sell your home than you are. 

I would say almost 100% of the Realtors in the Flathead Valley DO NOT get Internet Marketing.  They do not market in the search engines and they not have a web presence that can get you found in a way that stands out in a global real estate market.

However, if your feel that a Realtor is best suited to market your real estate than honesty as suggested is a good qualities to look for but how in the world can you see honesty?

Real Estate is a Popularity Club, who is recommended to who, whose name do you see the most, and who has convinced you that them putting your listing into the MLS and waiting for a Buyer is better than any other Realtor doing the Exact same thing.

Just because there are a LARGE number of Realtors in the Flathead Valley does not mean that there are some “Great Agents” to choose from.  It is VERY hard to be a Great Agent when you run up against unethical situations.  A Large number of agents that went to school for one week is more SCARY than it is variety.

Choosing the “Right” Realtor may make NO DIFFERENCE at all to your Bottom Line.

However, it DOES make a very BIG difference to THEIR bottom line.

Choosing a Realtor does not have to be overwhelming as suggested here.

Do you Really feel that a Realtor’s background is of any use to you? You would be SHOCKED at some of their backgrounds.  In the state of Montana, as long as you did the time and paid for the crime you can still get a license to sell real estate.

If a Realtor gives you a “few” happy clients as references, this is of NO Benefit you and your real estate transaction.

What does matter is how they Make Your Real Estate for Sale Stand out among the thousands of other Real Estate for sale in your Target Market Area.

As far as getting to know your Realtor better, believe me the LESS your Realtor knows about the better it is for YOU. 

References are often jaded and lean in the favor of the Realtor, makes sense right ?

Folks, Be very Careful about Facts on Area prices.  I can give you a CMA to point to any price I like.  In rural Montana there oftentimes is not enough comps and creating a “Home Value” may not be as accurate as using the SOLD data in the local MLS.

I do agree with checking out Realtor’s website.  But don’t look for bells and whistles look for a targeted domain name, and how this name come up in the search engines. You don’t WANT to blend in.  If you have lakefront property, horse property, water property, flathead lake frontage, or some other specific type of real estate for sale in a specific area YOU want Targeted Internet Marketing to that area and you do not want to blend in with everybody else.

I don’t believe there is a Realtor out there who can protect your interests better than you being INFORMED can.  A Realtor is not necessarily an Attorney and they may not even know how much their listing can hurt you. 

I would like to believe in the fantasy that “we need a professional on our side” but after trying to be “a professional on your side”, I have decided it is impossible for a Realtor to protect your interests.  Successful Transactions are EASY, but finding truth in real estate and finding a Realtor that will stand up for you in the future is not so Easy.

In conclusion, Chris makes some very good points, however, I caution you to Find Out More.

Crystal,
YOU could of kept all this to YOURSELF!

Jennifer, I see from above your the fan club.  I did KEEP it all to myself.  And I have stood by while a whole lot of consumers have been hurt.  I would ask that you make more intelligent comments than Go Chris - Rah Rah.  This is people’s life, their REAL life.  Real Estate can ruin your life, ruin your health and certainly take a chunk out of your pocket book.  As a Real Estate Broker Owner I have KEPT too much to myself for too long and though I am sure that MOST will not agree with me or want to rock the REALORS dynasty, that will no longer keep me “keeping it to myself”.  The public has a right to know what goes on behind closed doors. 

Are you one of Chris’s references ? Are you a Co-Worker ?  a Client?  It is pretty obvious who I am but one wonders who you are with comments like “Chris is top Pick - Go Chris"… Real Estate is More than That.  Being such a NEW agent I am sure that Chris has not SEEN as much as I have.  I had an office in Whitefish and Eureka, I had 17 agents.  I have seen behind the curtain. I am not HERE to cheer any one on or tear anyone down.  I am here to let consumers know their rights in real estate.

I know Chris posts here to create a buzz about him, not sure why your here.  However, I know what I am talking about and I am not on this page to create business but instead to create a REAL public knowledge in what really goes on in a real estate transaction. 

Thank you for your Negative, yet Simple Comment.

My father used to tell me over and over the old line that “good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment”.  Yes it is true that internet marketing is important, however it is just one component of a comprehensive action plan. Remember that marketing is done to get the offer, but it is really once we get the offer that our job and the insights of a professional really come true. Representing our client, their money, their goals and dreams, is in my opinion, the most crucial part of being hired.  That’s why you want someone who is experienced, has a background in business, who knows contracts, understands people, can negotiate, has a good set of client references; ones that can say, yeah this guy saved me a lot of money or my realtor did a fantastic job for me!  All of these things are important.  Listen, if you feel you can sell your property by yourself, unrepresented, I am all for it.  You hire a mechanic to work on your car because they know more about than you do.  However, if you know what you’re doing, have the equipment and are set up to do the job, then take care of business.

I know from my experience it is always good to have another set of eyes looking out for you, to point out things you might have missed, present the big picture and to take the emotions out of it. These are some good points about marketing, but marketing isn’t all that realtors do for their clients. Just ask mine!

I know some realtors who can smoke the best financial planners, best stock analysts and best government planners.  I know some really sharp realtors, who have done some amazing things, why, because we care about the people and the communities we serve. That is why it is important to hire the best, and sometimes the best might not be what you are looking for but you should hire the best that you can afford.