What to Look for in a Realtor
Kevin Koss – Will Keep You From Freaking Out
Selling and Buying a house is SO STRESSFUL! If anything can bring on a freak attack, that’s it. So, when you sell a house or buy a house, there are three things you need in an agent, patience, support and analytics. There is one thing you don’t need - a cheezy real estate agent. OK, you know what I mean, that gum-chewing, perfectly coiffed(and when i say perfect, I mean it looks like they single-handedly bumped up the stock price for AquaNet), Sears portrait taking agent, with that “lemon-scented” four door vehicular version of a Naugahyde couch. Enough about what you don’t need. Back to what you should look for:
Patience for all the crap you will put them through
Integrity to shoulder the burden, and trust that you’re shouldering it off to the right person
Analytical to help make practical decisions based on your goals and what the market will bear
I know this criteria because I put my house on the market this year looking to downsize… After interviewing nerd after nerd, I found Kevin. First of all, he drives a mini. Seriously, a mini is the perfect car to zip around SF to find the condo of your dreams. OK, I’m a tad bit biased because I too drive a mini. But like any true San Franciscan, he has a Prius too. Don’t hold that against him.
As I entered into this journey, I was freaked out. I loved my house, but I really wanted to downsize. If you are any way emotionally attached to your home, you really need someone with patience and perseverance to see you through those agonizing moments when some schmuck wants to buy your house for a ridiculously low price, after you sunk $20k into it. In this market in particular, you need someone with patience. You also desperately need someone who can crunch the numbers, while also considering the “soft costs” of selling your house. Someone who can be analytical about the entire process, someone to answer the tough questions about how much your house is truly worth given market conditions, the marketability of your house, and what your goals are. Lastly, you need integrity. In my mind, I liken real estate agents with used car dealers. They want to get it off the block as fast as they can at the highest level of commission possible. You absolutely should NOT hire an agent if they don’t have that certain je ne sais quoi – ie… integrity.
Kevin has all these qualities, but the one that I trust and admire the most is his integrity. I put my house on the market in January, I wanted to move from a house to a condo – less to manage. Well, the market took a dive, then a dump. Through that whole progression, Kevin was right there, continuing to identify what my true goals were against what the market and house would bear. In the end, I kept the house, although it took me much longer to pull it off the market than what he suggested. In the end, he was right, my downsizing goal would be best spent if delayed. His recommendation put him out of a pretty huge commission check, not to mention all the hours he dedicated to getting it ready and selling it. Kevin doesn’t tell clients to sell or buy just so he can get a commission check. This isn’t the best way to make a fast buck, but I believe in the long run with this approach he will develop a loyal clientele.
Oh, and one more thing – he is an awesome chef.
Dana Loof
