Whether you are a first-time buyer, long-time homeowner whose family continues to outgrow its current home, or simply relocating for one reason or another, one thing these scenarios all have in common is the need for a quality real estate agent.

“While many people have long-term relationships with their agent, either built on trust, ease of contact – or simply a friend or relative in the business – it’s always important to review your current needs and assess whether or not you might want to test the proverbial waters and seek out a new relationship,” says Darren Slavens, long-time Toronto-based real estate broker and co-owner of Slavens & Associates.

Slavens recommends five simple, but often over-looked elements when assessing and selecting a real estate agent:

1. Ensure the agent is full-time.

“While this may sound obvious, many agents practice real estate on a part-time basis,” says Slavens. “Many people think being a realtor is fairly straightforward, but the truth is there are many nuances and details that require 24-7 attention.”

2. Get a strong sense of their honesty.

“Ask some difficult questions upfront and gauge the agent’s answers as best you can,” says Slavens. “Most of us can sense when someone is using tried and true ‘cookie-cutter’ answers and not speaking from the heart. This applies to your agent relationship, as well.”

3. Confirm a successful track record.

“Ask about recent sales, unique and challenging situations, as well as the agent’s long-term achievements,” explains Slavens. “A track record shows more than success – it shows commitment and focus.”

4. Identify examples of their work ethic.

“Approach it as if you’re conducting a job interview, because essentially that’s exactly what you are doing,” says Slavens. “Ask for examples of their work ethic, how they managed their way through difficult situations, and what they think it takes to be a top agent.”

5. Ask for at least three customer references – and make those calls.

“It may sound old school, but it’s also a tried-and-true method to get a sense of the agent’s relationship with other clients,” says Slavens. “Ask references about the process, the agent’s availability, and their willingness to provide options and get creative.”

It comes down to a sense of comfort, trust and respect, concludes Slavens. “Relationships are critical in this business, especially when you consider this will most likely be the biggest investment of your life.”

No matter what you’ve read, no matter what your friends have told you, no matter what real estate industry bashers will say, insist that your Agent does Public Open Houses.

The Haters will say that Agents only do Open Houses to pick up new clients and that it’s not about selling your house.

Not going to lie, there is Definitely an element of that. I know Agents that have made an incredibly lucrative career on Open Houses Alone. They sit, they pick up, they sell….

It is also true that it is very unlikely that someone who doesn’t know about the house and isn’t currently in the Market to buy will stumble upon your Open House sign, walk in, fall in love and buy it. Though I could tell you about numerous instances where that exact thing has happened.

Then there are nosey neighbors. Who the hell wants their neighbors walking into their house just to see how you live and compare your place and life to theirs. I Do! Nosey Neighbors tell their friends and relatives about homes. “Hi Cousin Joey, you know how you’ve been looking to get into our neighborhood, a couple of houses down is for sale, I went in and it’s gorgeous. You should check it out, they’re open again tomorrow”.

The bottom line is this, we need to get people into your house, we need people talking about your house and a great way to do that is through Open Houses. It’s also an opportunity for people who have seen the house already with their agent to come back and have family and friends come by to see the place.

Exposure is key and increasing by any means especially in the first few weeks (And with a Slavens Agent should be pretty quick:-) )is key.

Don’t sweat the small stuff. Have Open Houses and get that hizzle SOLD!!!

HOUSE HUMPING: The act of traveling to an open house, and then when the realtor is distracted they find an empty room or closet to have a quickie.

Ok, you’re probably thinking this never happens. Well my friends, I can tell you from experience it most definitely does. I have caught people red handed (and red faced).

I’m a rather liberal person, couldn’t care less what people do in the privacy of their own home. For that matter couldn’t care less what people do anywhere… Planes freak me out (somehow I think it could bring it down or at least cause crazy turbulence) but other than that, just don’t do it in a house I have for sale and we’ll be ok.

Still think I’m kidding? Do a little Google search on House Humping and you’ll find clubs, forums, stories galore… nothing in comparison to catching someone in the act though.

I had a couple come in to a home in an affluent area. I saw them pull up in their car together. The female entered the house but the male driving the car did not. That is far from unusual though as often couples enter homes at different times. But these guys couldn’t have been more obvious.

After roughly five minutes the male entered the home and acted as if he did not know the female. A quick glance in the main hall as we walked past and that was it. After a tour of the home I advised the female that she was free to walk around and if she had any questions to let me know. It’s important to know I was on the main floor and there were two agents at this open house. It was quite busy. I would say probably 7 people in the house at the time.

I noticed after about 3 mins or so that the couple had disappeared but that their car was still outside. All our other visitors happened to leave at that time. The house was silent. Not a peep, not even a footstep coming from upstairs.

Strange.

This required investigation. Maybe the people had left, couldn’t possibly be that quiet.

Up the stairs I crept, no way was I expecting to find what I found. To this day I can’t get the vision out of my mind. It’s not like we’re talking about walking in on Cindy Crawford here folks. The damage to my psyche is immeasurable. I didn’t even have to say anything to them. It was like a little child getting caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Thankfully because I was too shocked to say anything, don’t even know what I would have said. The just looked at me shamefully zipped up and walked out like nothing had happened. I think I must have stood there for what felt like 10min. My partner at the open house had no clue.

Point of my story, ask your agent to have 2 people at every open house. Especially if you know it will be busy. It’s important to track everyone that comes into your clients home!