Whether you are buying or selling Hilton Head Island Real Estate, one of the most important decisions you will make is choosing your realtor. One of the first things you may want to do is ask your friends/neigbors if there is a realtor they have worked with they would recommend. I can tell you that my partners and I have been successful in real estate based on referrals from previous clients. After speaking with a few friends and neighbors, you may come up with a small list of realtors to interview. Here are 10 important questions you should ask:

1. What is your experience? How long have you been selling real estate?
2. Are you a current member of the Hilton Head MLS board?
3. Are you a current member of the Board of Realtors on Hilton Head?
4. What is your committment to getting our property sold?
5. What is your personal sales record for our area/island wide?
6. What is the sales record of your company for our area/island wide?
7. How do you plan to market our property?
8. What is the level of technology you will use to promote our property?
9. Do you have any recommendations prior to listing the home?
10. What should be the list price?

Experience is key when interviewing a Realtor. Ask them to provide you in "black & white" their sales record & their company's sales record. Nothing quite tells you the story like print! It is important to know if your agent/real estate company is #1 or #45 in listings and sales. Remember that an agent may not sell much in your area, but if you have a luxury property, and that is the agent's specialty, then do not let the numbers discourage you from listing your home with this particular agent. The reason I think it is important to ask the next 2 questions about the MLS Board & the Board of Realtors is because then you know a realtor's committment to their job. There are several agents in our area who work part time, and I can assure you that you want an agent who sells/lists real estate 24/7 and has no other jobs than being a realtor. Being a member of these 2 Boards means they are an active member in the real estate community. Also, keep in mind that there is a difference between a realtor and real estate agent. A real estate agent has a license in the state in which they practice, and a realtor is a real estate agent who has earned additonal certification from the National Association of Realtors. It is important to know the marketing plan when listing your home. Have a Realtor take you step by step of what they will do prior to listing your home & during the listing of your home to get it sold. Technology is key in a marketing plan. People are searching the internets more than ever to find homes to buy and people are looking on the internet trying to figure out who is the best listing agent. Make sure your Realtor is in the 21st centry! Ask your Realtor if there is anything you should do prior to putting your home on the market. Sprucing up your yard, having a home inspection, putting down new carpet, or painting a front door may be a few recommendations from a realtor to get your house looking it's best. List price is significant, especially in this market where we have never had more inventory than we do now. Most realtor's will not be able to give you a list price of your property the first time they see it unless they have seen other comparable properties, and possibly you are in a complex where the floor plan/view is the same for all. Be hesitant about dealing with a Realtor who pulls a number out of the sky and has nothing to back up the information. There is a "fine science" to determining the list price of a property. Make sure your Realtor does their homework and shows you in black & white of how they came up with your list price. Also, be leary of realtors who offer you a discounted commission. There are discount agents, and remember, "You get what you pay for". We, at Carolina Realty Group, are all Realtors. Some have furthered their education by having their broker's license. WE are all FULL-TIME Realtors, no part-timers in this group! We are the only real estate company on the island that works as a true "TEAM". When you hire one agent, you get all of them. One for all and all for One! Ask us for our team sales record because we can show you in black & white that we are #1. We have a proven track record of success regarding our marketing plan, and the level of technology we offer is barred- none. We have built our company on a foundation of Teamwork, Technology, Top Notch Agents, and never ending pursuit to deliver the highest level of Client Satisfaction. Please call or visit our website to learn more about our innovative approach to Real Estate Sales & Marketing. Please feel free to visit us at our Hilton Head location, 3 Executive Park Road, and we are also pleased to announce our new location in Bluffton, SC, Carolina Realty Group at Moss Creek.