One of the biggest complaints people have about REALTORS®, is the lack of communication. That is a huge topic in itself, but I want to focus on the Buyer aspect of it.

So, you are a buyer and you are looking to purchase a home. How do you shop for a REALTOR®?

Many people focus on how nice a REALTOR®’s website is, how many homes they can immediately show them, or how many million dollar homes that REALTOR® sells.

Sure, those are lovely, but those aspects really aren’t what is going to help that REALTOR® get you, the best home for you.

What they really should be focusing on is, how the REALTOR® communicates with them.

When I get a new buyer, I asked them questions. I ask them A LOT of questions. Everything from bedrooms and bathrooms, to specific location (even down to the street parameters), to square feet minimum, to having a washer/dryer (yep, that doesn’t come with every condo), to type of financing, to views, to lot size, and so on.

Sure, anyone can search for properties online. As a REALTOR®, I have to offer my customers more than that. I have to customize the search to their specific needs, which most of the websites can’t do.

And, the questions never stop. Every time we see properties, I ask what they liked or didn’t like about it, and how we can improve the search. Are we missing anything? Do we need to add anything?

What inspired this blog post, was a beautiful 4 bedroom, 3 bath home in Hollywood Hills. The house was totally redone and showed like a model home. It had a great backyard, with room for a pool. There were over 30 pictures and a video walkthrough tour of the entire house.

I had three showings in a row, where, when I called for feedback, the agents all said the same thing, “The house was beautiful, but my buyer wants a pool.”

WHY WERE YOU SHOWING YOUR BUYERS A HOUSE WITH NO POOL, WHEN THEY WANT A POOL?

This goes back to the old joke of Real-tour versus REALTOR®. You don’t want a tour guide as a REALTOR® to help you shop for a home. You want a REALTOR® who is constantly looking out for your wants and needs, showing you homes that meet your requirements, so you can find the BEST home for you.