What a really good agent will do for you

If you don't buy and sell homes frequently, some of the things your agent should/could be doing for you may not occur to you. A good real estate agent can do far more than simply help you find the right house or the right buyer. A really good agent, in fact, should leave you with nothing to do but make a few decisions and pack. Specifically, a really good agent will:

a) understand real estate contracts well enough to ensure that yours will come to fruition as contemplated. This often requires an understanding not only of what the contract means, but of what could happen ouside the contract that would threaten the transaction. I used to train new agents on this and can speak on the subject for a couple of hours;

b) shop for the best loan for you and/or be certain that your buyer is pursuing one that he can actually get. The loan process is fraught with pitfalls for the unwary and you will rarely obtain the best loan if left to your own devices to find it;

c) know how to repair defects or have reasonable, competent tradesmen who can do it, and take care of coordinating whatever repairs are agreed to;

d) be very familiar with the area in which you are looking or where the house you want to sell is located. This may seem obvious to you, but Palos Verdes, for example, is a difficult area to really get to know well. Many agents from surrounding areas covet Palos Verdes business and claim knowledge of the area that they really don't have. Unless you know the agent personally, using an agent whose office is located in the appropriate area is a good start. If your agent needs a map, it's not a good sign;

e) be willing and able to deal with local jurisdictions regarding violations that must be cured. In Palos Verdes Estates, for example, the Art Jury generally inspects properties in escrow and provides all parties with a list of "unpermitted" items that must be approved/modified. This can potentially be a major hassle for a seller. I consider taking care of this as part of my normal service, but don't expect it from many others;

f) be prepared to do the little things that make your life easier during this stressful time:

-- smoke detectors, for example -- they're required to be installed prior to the close of almost all escrows. A good agent ought to be able to take care of this without the seller having to find someone to do it. I buy them in bulk and install them for my sellers myself free of charge;

-- switching over the utilities -- often overlooked until the last minute, this can be time-consuming and frustrating near the close of escrow when you've got enough other things to worry about. Call too early and you may find youself with no power mid-escrow. Where possible, I take care of this for my clients;

-- deliver all documents and personally go over them with you.

Generally, there are lots of little things that come up during an escrow. An agent should be willing to do the things he would want his agent to do if he were the client.