No matter where you buy real estate, it's important to work with a broker who has experience navigating your market’s ever-changing environment. Whether you're buying a first home, a forever home, an investment property, or a building for your business, your broker should have a wealth of knowledge about the neighborhood, pricing, sale documents, due diligence, financing, negotiating, and other elements that arise in real estate transactions. They should also have the training and innate desire to place your needs first.

If you're working with a newer broker, they may not have access to the wealth of knowledge and experience of a more seasoned broker. They may be full of enthusiasm, but mistakes made with enthusiasm are still mistakes - and could cost you a lot of money or the chance to purchase the home you really want.

If you’re working with a part-time broker, they may be too busy with primary job, night job, or family to keep up with your needs. Part of a purposeful real estate plan is to work with someone who is dedicated to working with you full time to help you find the perfect property. In real estate, the best ability is “availability” and if your broker isn’t available, you might miss out on a great opportunity.

If you’re working with a burnt-out broker or one who is winding down a long career, they may have loads of experience, but they may have little energy or interest in finding you the property that best fits your needs. You heard it here first: Beware the broker who still uses a fax machine with rolled paper or who has a business card with a picture of them talking on a wired phone.

If you're working with a team, you're probably getting handed off to the least experienced broker on the team, the one who is a combination Uber-driver and door opener. They’ll have lots of energy and they might be a little pushy about getting you into a home as quickly as possible. Teams tend to thrive on transactions rather than relationships. Our business isn’t about us getting paid, it’s about you finding the perfect fit for you and on your schedule.

If you’re working with a broker who specializes in commercial real estate who sells residential properties to make ends meet, you might be working with the wrong person. Like an inexperienced broker, a commercial broker who dabbles on the residential side may not have all the skills needed or the knowledge necessary to avoid residential pitfalls. An undiscovered oil tank or a bad sewer line can cost you a lot of money if they’re not discovered during the inspection period. What works for due diligence for an office building might not work for a home.

At You Realty, we are all full-time brokers with a lot of experience. Some of us have had other careers as a lawyer, contractor, entrepreneur, or designer, but those careers augment the knowledge and experience we have as brokers. We also have other interests like making jewelry or ceramics, organizing community events, coaching soccer, donating blood, and performing in a choir to name a few. We don’t have real estate sales teams, but we are very collegial and assist each other on larger projects or when a broker can’t be in two places at once. One thing that we are very proud of is that we strive to give our clients the best service and experience possible. Transactions will come and go, but relationships are forever. In that respect, our collective mantra is that “We’re all about YOU.”