Thursday, April 30, 2015

The Best Real Estate Agent


Remember when you were single and you wanted to meet the person of your dreams? It wasn't like you were going to go out and the first person you bumped into was going to be “that person”.

You don’t have to worry about walking down the aisle with your agent, just to the real estate attorney to sign the closing papers.  

Finding the right agent for you is kind of the same situation. Your agent will be the most important part of your team to find you the right home or to sell your home at the best price. You should feel confident and comfortable talking with your agent. You will be giving them lots of information about yourself and your family and discussing your wants and needs.

ElliottCoastal Living is one of the oldest and largest real estate companies in the Myrtle Beach area and has been in business for over 55 years. Elliott Coastal Living works with communities throughout the Myrtle Beach area and the coastal communities of South Easter North Carolina. Rick Elliott, President, said that a relationship between a real estate agent and seller or buyer of a home is a special one.

“An agent is like your best friend. They will offer you suggestions, answer your questions, handle negotiations with a buyer or seller, be able to network with other real estate professionals and also handle a lot of paperwork that is necessary when you buy or sell a property. Any mistakes can cause a sale to fail…and no one wants that.” Elliott added.

What should you do to find the perfect match? Here are some suggestions:

1.    Talk to several agents and make sure you feel comfortable with whomever you select. You will be talking with them quite often, asking their advice and giving them lots of information about yourself and your family. If you don’t feel comfortable with them, it might make for some awkward conversations.

2.    Real estate professionals have to be licensed by the state and meet certain standards. While a state license does not mean they are the best agent for you, having someone who is not licensed in the state would be like giving the keys to your car to someone who’s not a licensed driver. They may know how to drive, but the state doesn’t recognize their ability and skills.

3.    How long have they been in business? According to experts, it’s better to have a company that has been up and running for a while. "If they haven't been in business five years, they're learning on you and that's not good," says Robert Irwin, author of "Tips & Traps When Buying a Home." Rick Elliott, President of Elliott Coastal Living said “Our Company has been in the area for over 55 years. We have seen the community grow and are able to recognize trends early.” Factors like this can help you avoid pitfalls that a less experienced company might not see.

4.    It is an excellent idea to check to see if the Relator is a full time agent. If you select a agent who sells real estate every other Saturday and the first Tuesday of the month, you may not be getting the best person to work for you. Your agent needs to be someone who follows your area market every day. If you are buying a home, you will want someone who can see a new listing quickly and show you the house immediately. If you are selling your house, you will want an agent to be able to show your house at the prospective buyer’s convenience. “A missed opportunity may be a missed sale” says Rick Elliott.

5.    Uncle Jim Bob may tell great stories that make Aunt Rose shrink under the table from embarrassment during Christmas dinner, but he may not be your best selection as your real estate professional. Having an agent who is a relative may cause hard feelings and some resentment. Especially if the home you buy or sell ends up with some problems or the price is either too high if you are a buyer or too low if you are a seller. Conflicts may cause the transaction to fail. It may also cause long term family conflicts and you might only get a lousy fruitcake from Uncle Jim Bob in the future.

6.    If you are selling your home, the most important thing to ask an agent is what kind of marketing plan they have to sell your home. It is not enough to just have a home listed on the MLS listings. Will there be an open house? How about a web video tour? Who is the most likely buyer that would be interested a home like yours? How will they get your property in front of that buyer?

7.    The Stupid Question?  You probably had a high school teacher that told youthe stupidest question is the question that has not been asked”. This is especially true when talking to a potential real estate agent.  Don’t feel afraid to ask potential real estate agents questions. There will be different questions to ask depending on whether you are the buyer or the seller.

8.    As a buyer, you should want to know how much communication the agent will have with you. You will want to know how they will contact you. These days, it can range anywhere from a phone call, text message or via email. If they tell you snail mail, you probably should look elsewhere. Ask them how often you should expect to hear from them. Are they familiar with people in your situation? Cash sales are pretty straight forward. Homes with VA Loans and FHA Loans may require some extra steps.

9.    As a seller, you will also want to know how you will be communicating with the agent. While each house is different, your agent can give you trends in your area for the number of days on the market, average price of a home and average sales price of a home in the area. You would also want your agent to help you meet the goals of your sale. Are there simple repairs that should be made? If you have already moved, will renting some furniture help nudge the sale? If the house does not sell in a set number of months, what options do you have?

10.  Foreclosures may be a bargain worth looking at in Myrtle Beach area. Even though the real estate market in the Myrtle Beach area is improving, you may still find a budget priced foreclosures for sale. Some foreclosures may take some work or need appliances and fixtures depending on the state the previous owner left the property in. Many foreclosures can be a very shrewd investment. If you are in the market for a foreclosure, make sure your real estate agent is familiar with some of the extra steps required for the purchase of a foreclosure.

11.  Look at the company that your agent works for. With today’s changing technologies, having a real estate company that does not use the latest technology or means to market your property may lead to longer wait times to sell or purchase your home. Does the company the agent works for meet your expectations?


There are many real estate agents in the Myrtle Beach area and some are better than others. Not every real estate company is on equal terms either. The best advice anyone can give you is carefully select your agent and the company they work for. Elliott Coastal Living has many very qualified and professional agents who will give you the best service available.

According to Rick Elliott, “Every member of the entire company is there to help you either buy or sell your home. We take great pride in the personal service that we give each person that walks into any of our offices. I strongly believe that we are the best when it comes to delivering quality service to you. Our involvement in the community, knowledge of the real estate market, and care in meeting the needs of our customers and clients have enabled us to enjoy a fine reputation across the state.”


Call your Better Homes and Gardens - Elliott Coastal Living office and make plans to stop by and meet the agent that will be your guide and knowledgeable helper in either finding your new home or selling your old one.

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