What to Ask When Choosing a Sedona Real Estate Agent / Realtor

When considering Sedona AZ Realty, be it homes, lots, acreage or specialty realty like horse property, you’ll want to know that you’re working with pros. Not a part-time agent.   A realty team is best suited to adapt to your schedule and show you property when you want to see it.

How long have you been a Realtor?  Is residential real estate sales your full time employment?
Susan began in 1986 and Troy in 1998.  Selling Sedona real estate is our full time job.

Experience doesn’t guarantee skill however most of a real estate agents education is learned on the job.
Do you have any designations or certifications?  For an all around certification, look for the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS).   Most CRS’s have demonstrated more than 10 years experience and performance and have completed a significant amount of classroom work.  Nationally less than 3% of all Realtors are a CRS.  The number is even lower for Sedona AZ Realtors.  Another designation that you’ll want your real estate agent to have is the Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR).  A Sedona Realtor with an ABR designation has formal classroom training in how to best represent home buyers. They must also have completed a number of sales as a Buyer Representative.  Nationally, less than 4% of all Realtors are ABR’s.  Susan and I have both designations.

What’s your business philosophy?  We believe every person deserves to own a home.  In keeping with our ABR designation, we believe that it is our job to provides as much information as possible to the client so that they can arrive at an informed buying decision that they are happy about.  We don’t believe in pressuring people. When you have information, you can arrive at decision and sometimes that decision will be to pass.

While there is not a correct answer to this philosophy  question, the answer will help you determine what’s important to the real estate agent and determine how closely the Realtor’s goals are compatible with yours.

Can you recommend service providers? What if I need to apply mortgage pre-approval or make home repairs, and so on.- Absolutely.  Here’s our list of service providers.   We also keep a database of contractors if you need someone beyond the list.  If we don’t have anyone, we will reach out through the brokerage network for recommendations from other real estate agents. Sedona Realtors should be able to recommend more than one provider and let you know if they have any special/conflicting relationship with any of the providers. 

How will you keep me informed about the progress of my transaction?  Once you have an accepted offer, other parties will come into play.   Mortgage people, Title and Escrow company, home inspector, appraiser and more.  We utilize transaction management software to track your purchase from contract to closing.  When we make an offer, we will discuss time-frames for your contingencies.  For instance, a home inspection/due diligence contingency is normally for 10 days from acceptance of the contract.  If you are getting a mortgage, you’ll need to apply for a loan and your mortgage professional will order the appraisal.

Ask their past clients if they’d use the real estate agent again.  We have reviews online and will be happy to provide references.