Register Real Estate Advisors » Accredited Buyer Representative

Selecting the Best to Represent You

Shannon Register, Broker/Owner — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 04:25:06 +0000

Texas REALTOR® vs. real estate licensee
Holding a real estate agent’s or real estate broker’s license does not make someone a REALTOR®. Here in Texas, membership in the National Association of REALTORS®, the Texas Association of REALTORS®, and one of 89 local associations or boards entitles real estate licensees to use the term “REALTOR®” on their business cards and in their marketing materials. Hiring a Texas REALTOR® means you’ve retained someone who is committed to continuing education, professionalism, and integrity. In addition to upholding the strict REALTOR® Code of Ethics, many Texas REALTORS® (like me) hold one or more professional designations—those letters behind our names indicating advanced or specialized training in real estate. Here are just a few of the various designations and certifications a Texas REALTOR® may hold and what they could mean for you:

Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI)
The GRI designation is a mark of distinction that earns REALTORS® respect and confidence from their peers and the general public, demonstrating their commitment to advancing their knowledge in many aspects of the real estate profession.

Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
Residential salespeople who hold the CRS designation specialize in listing properties, selling, and investing, as well as mortgage financing and computer applications.

Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR)
A buyer’s agent represents the buyer in a real estate transaction, just as a seller’s agent is hired to obtain the price and sale terms sought by the seller. The ABR is the only nationally recognized designation for buyer’s agents.

Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB)
The CRB designation is recognized in the real estate profession as the symbol of management excellence and is awarded to brokerage owners and managers.

e-PRO
The e-PRO certification is the real estate industry’s first comprehensive technology certification endorsed by the National Association of REALTORS®.

Texas Affordable Housing Specialist (TAHS)
Some Texas REALTORS® have undergone a 12-hour certification program that arms them with specialized knowledge about affordable housing resources and products for consumers in Texas. A Texas Affordable Housing Specialist is dedicated to increasing the rate of homeownership and retention.

Texas REALTORS®

"Selecting the Best to Represent You" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.

5 Reasons to Sign a Buyer Representation Agreement

Shannon Register, Broker/Owner — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 03:12:17 +0000

If you’ve started looking for a home-and a real estate professional to assist you-your buyer’s representative may ask you to sign a Buyer Representation Agreement. What is this form? Why should you sign it?
A Buyer Representation Agreement is a legal document that formalizes your working relationship with a particular buyer’s representative, detailing what services you are entitled to and what your buyer’s rep expects from you in return. While the language used in the document is formal, homebuyers should view it as an important and helpful tool for clarifying expectations, developing mutual loyalty, and most importantly, elevating the services you will receive.
1. Receive a higher level of service. If you’ve formalized an agency relationship with a buyer’s rep, you can expect to be treated like a client instead of a customer. What’s the difference? Clients are entitled to superior services, relative to scustomers. While the details vary from state to state, and from one buyer’s agent to another, you can generally assume that being a client means that you’ve formed a fiduciary, or agency, relationship with your buyer’s rep.
2. Get more without paying more. In almost every case, home sellers have already agreed to pay a buyer’s agent’s commission. If they haven’t you can ask your buyer’s rep to avoid showing you any such homes. Or you can still view the home, knowing that you’ll need to factor your agrent’s commission into any offer you may write. While buyers rarely pay rela estate commissions, this is an important details you’ll want to discuss with your buyer’s rep and clarify in their representation agreement.
3. Avoid misunderstandings. A Buyer’s Representation Agreement clarifies expectations, helping you understand what you should and shouldn’t expect from your buyer’s rep, and what they will expect from you, which usually centers on loyalty.
4. Agency relationships are based on mutual consent. While most representation agreements specify a time period, they can be terminated early if both parties consent. Most buyer’s reps are willing to end the agreement early if the working relationship isn’t going well. Some buyer’s reps also offer representation agreements for as little as one day, for the purpose of giving both parties a brief trial period to explore working together.
5. Strength as a team. When you and your buyer’s rep work together within a formalized agency relationship, you have created a team dedicated to helping you achieve the best possible home-buying experience.
The ABR designation is awarded by The Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC), a subsidiary of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). This information was obtained from the REBAC website. Note that not every state requires a signed Buyer’s Representation Agreement to create an agency relationship. In some cases, an agency relationship can be formed if both parties simply behave as if one exists. I hold the ABR designation because I feel it is so important for my buying clients. I want to represent them better than anyone else can!

"5 Reasons to Sign a Buyer Representation Agreement" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.

20 Reasons to Hire a Texas REALTOR

Shannon Register, Broker/Owner — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 03:25:50 +0000

1. Homes are bought by comparison. I have a large inventory at my disposal through MLS while you have an inventory of one.
2. I am very familiar with competitive houses so I can help you position your home well.
3. It is hard negotiating for yourself. I have ltos of experience in writien contracts and can negotiate agressicely on your behalf.
4. Buyers are not always forthright about their financial situation. I insist on pre-qualifying before I even bring you an offer.
5. My lender contacts and mortgage experience help buyers get the financing they need.
6. Most buyers don’t want to tell the seller why they don’t make an offer. I can probe the buyer or his agent for that information.
7. Any follow up you do with a buyer can be seen as desperation I follow up as part of my job so that you are not perceived in a compromising light.
8. I can showcase your improvements better so that you don’t apprea like you are “selling.”
9. Most sellers who spend their time as a For Sale By Owner end up by listing in the end. A recent NAR survey found that only 11% of sellers nationally ended up selling by owner. Why spend your time and money if in the end you will hire a Realtor?
10. Unqualified buyers can tie up your home. I make sure that doesn’t happen.
11. Personality conflicts with a buyer can get in the way. I comne between the buyer and the seller so that personalities don’t enter it.
12. Most buyers use a Realtor, which increases the number of buyers who will see your home.
13. I can mobilize my company agents and other area Realtors on your behalf.
14. An NAR survey of recent closed sellers found that Relator-assisted sales brought in 20% more sales price than For Sale By Owner sales.
15. A FSBO sign makes you vulnerable for any curious seeker or unsavory character. When you list, only buyers accompanied by a Realtor will get into your home.
16. Being accessible to show your home limits your personal time and cuts down the available showing time. When you list, your property will be available during normal showing hours and the prostpect will always be accompanied by me or another Realtor.
17. Additional exposure through MLS and the Internet brings you a higher price.
18. I orchestrate the contract-to-closing process, including the appraisal, buyer-loan process, title, inspections, pest control, survey, etc., by taking this burden off of you.
19. I make sure that you are compliant with all laws relating to the sale of your home.
20. I only get paid when I get the job done.

I have access to this information and much more because I am a Realtor and I have obtained the GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute) Designation. This information is from the Texas Association of Realtors Website.

"20 Reasons to Hire a Texas REALTOR" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.