Is using a local realtor really important?

The world of real estate has changed over the past few years. Internet searching for property has become the norm for most homebuyers, and websites like Craigs List have replaced much of the traditional advertising of homes for sale in many areas of the country. So, where does that leave the local area specialist? Certainly not in as strong a position as before!

I have never specialized in a particular area, but will service clients wherever they are looking for property! The Internet has enabled me to do this quite well! And, contrary to what area specialists would like you to believe, agents in ALL areas have accepted my offers! I believe that the strength of the offer is what matters. And, as long as I take the time to get to know the agent PRIOR to writing and submitting my offer, as well as presenting the offer in person as often as possible, I have found that my offers have been accepted on their merit, not as a result of being part of a special insider club of agents in a particular area!

So, why is this important to you? If you are working with an agent you like, dont fire them because you suddenly decide to look in another neighborhood! Agents all have access to comps, property tax info, etc, so even if their office is not located in that neighborhood, they can still effectively help you! Now that being said, the agent should have a general knowledge of the area you are looking in. But having an office location in a particular city does not necessarily mean that you know more about that citys market than agents who have an office in a neighboring city! I have spent months with clients only to be dropped because they decided to look in the area right next to the town we started looking in because someone convinced them that they needed an area specialist in order to get their offer accepted! I can tell you, as an agent, this was very frustrating! So if you like your agent and they have done right by you, DONT fire them.

The same holds for sellersit is not necessarily important that an agent has sold in your neighborhood before. Access to information has made that requirement virtually obsolete. However, any agent that represents you should know about the neighborhood or complex you live in so they can offer valuable information to potential buyers! A little homework goes a long way! We can all hold broker tours, advertise your property, contact other agents for feedback, etc! I once represented a seller whose property was not selling! He replaced me with an area specialist who promised to hold a big lunch for the broker tour, which would draw hundreds of agents in the area that he knew! Well, the lunch was a huge success; a lot of agents came, but at the end of the day, none brought a buyer to the table because the property was over priced! And the open houses held by the local agent were no more successful than the ones held by me. My client offered to pay a higher commission to this agent, but in the end, his property never sold and it was taken off the market!

Agents promote what they perceive to be their strength in the marketplace. If being an area specialist is my thing, of course I will tell you that you couldnt possible live without this service! But that doesnt make it true! There are many agents out there who have been successful without ever concentrating on just one area! They bring a good skill to the table as wellthe art of comparison-shopping!