Any realtor can put a buyer in their car and show them homes. Or put a sellers’ home on the local multiple listing service for the world to see. Or be friendly, have a nice smile, and a good sense of humor.

1. Qualities of best agent/brokers
2. How to find “the best”
3. Beware of “false qualifications”

Qualities of best agent/brokers

• Ethical conduct. This is first, and most important, requirement for any service provider. And the most important to find. Without trust, any other service capabilities are meaningless.
  
  The best agents possess personal value systems that translate into trustworthiness. Recent events have highlighted just how difficult it is for service providers to always place their client’s interests above their own.
  
  The code of conduct mandated by the state of Connecticut is very specific about an agent’s ethical responsibilities to you.
  
  Did you know, for example, that an agent can not share any information about you, your personal finances, your motivations to buy or sell, etc., with anyone – including (and especially) other agents – without your express permission to do so?
  
  If loose lips can sink ships, they can also divulge – either purposely or thoughtlessly – information that can be leveraged in buyer/seller negotiations. This violates your trust and can wind up putting more of your money in someone else’s pocket

• Local knowledge. The best agents know their marketplace – and community - inside and out. They are up to date on current inventories of homes for sale, selling prices, and market trends. And, they know the best service providers – attorneys, mortgage brokers, building inspectors – whose expertise you can rely on.

• Experience. There’s no substitute for having been involved in enough transactions with buyers and sellers to have honed good skills when it comes to advising clients, problem solving, and – most importantly - helping you make good decisions.

• Communications skills. The best service professionals in any business are good listeners who ask questions focused on your needs. They make sure you have an understanding of the buying/selling process right from the beginning. They are quick to respond to your inquires, and make it a point to stay in frequent contact with you.

Tough Love knows it takes time and effort to source the best people. One way to get a running start is with a free referral to top local agents whose reputation with their clients and other real estate professionals meet’s our strict service guidelines.

The best agents can be found in anywhere in Fairfield county. If you know someone in your community ask for a referral to someone you can interview.

You can also call office managers at the local brokerage firms and ask who they would recommend based on your specific needs. Check out their web sites and see how the present themselves, and information about the community.

The following should never – on their own – be considered a reason to engage an agents’ services:

• Status as a “top producer” or award winner based on sales. Making lots of money does not always equate to ethical representation. (see Bernie Madoff).

• Friend, family member, or referral from someone else. These may be reasons to consider them as candidates, but they should be subject to the same scrutiny as if you we’re interviewing a stranger.
  
  Give serious thought as to whether or not you want to put your relationship with someone you know at risk when it comes to having them handle your personal business, including information about your personal finances.

• Discounted commissions. It’s tempting to save money. But unless your agent candidate also offers the most experience and service, you’re likely to wind up “paying” more for what you’re not getting.

One of the ways to secure you best deal is to make the terms of your offer as appealing as possible to the seller. For example, your willingness to take possession in 30 days may be an irresistible “carrot” to a seller who wants to cut overhead expenses as quickly as possible and move on.

The amount of cash involved in the purchase can make a difference too, especially in those circumstances where more than one buyer is bidding on the home (yes, it still happens).

If you were the seller, would you feel more comfortable about the buyer’s odds of “performing” if thirty per cent of the purchase price was paid for in cash versus another buyer looking to obtain financing with only ten per cent cash down?

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