Written by Steve Shuff, REALTOR, Semonin RealtorsMillion Dollar Producer
2009 Rookie of the Year
Thinking about selling your house? If so, you've probably thought about using a REALTOR to do the work for you. That's great! Using a REALTOR to assist you in the sale of your home is a great decision, ultimately saving you time and money.
So what do you do when you do not have or know a real estate agent? Where do you begin? What should you look for in an agent?
Here are some tips that may help you in making that decision when it comes time to interview an agent:
First, one issue that comes with having a real estate agent work for you, whether dealing with Kentucky Real Estate, or Southern Indiana Real Estate... or anywhere for that matter... is commission. Yes, unfortunately your real estate agent is paid for the work that is done on your behalf! However, believe it or not, this is probably the last item on your list you should consider when choosing an agent! Keep in mind, if the agent does not get the job done (regardless of the percentage you may have agreed to) the agent does not get paid. We'll come back to this later.
Let's focus on what you really need to consider;
1. Above anything else, TRUST! If you cannot trust your agent, how can you feel your agent is working in your best interest? Do your values align with your agent's? Do you feel you can work together toward a common goal?
2. Experience. Yes, it is nice if your agent has been through the trenches once or twice. The knowledge that comes with that may benefit you in the sale of your home. However, agents that are just starting out are hungry. You may find that a newer agent may go above and beyond, regardless of the situation. There is a concern about experience with a new agent, yes? That brings us to our next point.
3. Training. Just like a doctor or an electrician must stay up to date with the latest information, technology, and regulations in their professions... REALTORS should be doing the same. Look for a company that offers extensive training to their agents. Ask your potential agent about the training he or she may have received. It may be in your benefit to take on a newer agent with extensive training vs the experienced agent who has slacked off in recent times.
4. Services. There are many different kinds of brokerages out there. You will be able to find some that offer limited services, and those that offer full service "one stop shopping." Weigh these options when interviewing. Keep in mind, that the more exposure your agent can provide for your property, the better chance there is to capture the buyer that is willing to pay top dollar.
5. Team and Resources. Who will your agent go to when he or she does not have an answer for you, or has not encountered a situation you may have? Is there a broker that provide coaching and expertise? Or, are they on their own? Something to consider.
6. Commission. Yes, this is a consideration. Again though, make it your last. Ultimately, can the agent get you what you need to move forward with your plans? Can he/she get the money for you that you need in your pocket at closing? That should be your focus. Never take it at face value you if an agent tells you there is a standard commission that you can expect. Not true, and it is against the law for them to even say that. That's considered "price fixing." The truth is, in most cases in Kentucky and specifically when dealing with Jefferson County Real Estate and surrounding counties, real estate agents are independent contractors in most cases. Each one of us is different in the way we work. Ultimately, commission is an agreement between you and your agent, whatever it may be. Regardless, NEVER solely base your decision on who to work with on the commission. To put that first, may just mean you'll be in your home a bit longer than you planned... and that's not the goal.
THE CHOICE IS YOURS! Feel free to ask questions of the person whom you will be entrusting a major financial transaction on your behalf. Gather as much information as you need. Keeping these few thoughts in mind as you do your interviewing will get you off to the right start!
Somebody wants your house. It’s not a joke, nor a lie. It’s a hunch, and a very probable one at that. 
Maggie Terry of Semonin Realtors
Sunday, September 20, was the day after the Governor's Cup football game between the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky football teams. This year's game was played in Lexington.
Louisville homes for sale and southern Indiana homes are marketed many ways. Each week on this blog we compare the number of homes and condos for sale by local real estate brokers with the number of advertisements appearing in the Sunday real estate section J of the Courier-Journal.
The Sunday front page of the Courier-Journal talked about suicide in the military, health care choices facing employees, and a former state official charged with 6 counts of wanton endangerment.
This weekend our local market had close to 13,400 single family homes and condos listed by hundreds of local real estate agents. The listings on the market included most of the homes for sale in Louisville and Jefferson County Kentucky. They also included New Albany real estate, and Elizabethtown homes for sale.
The Sunday Courier-Journal front page headlined with one of our area's former high school football coaches being on trail for killing one of his players in football practice. The other leading headline was about the funeral of Sen. Edward Kennedy.
When you look at the real estate section of the Courier-Journal on any given Sunday you will see a lot of different brokerage companies represented and a lot of different agents doing the advertising of their properties, their companies, and their websites.
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