Real Estate Articles Be Careful When Choosing A Real Estate Agent -- Advice From A Former Realtor Real Estate Books for Buyers and Realtors The Land Buyers Guidebook will save buyers headaches, heartaches, and dollars. Getting Clients will supercharge a real estate career by teaching niche creation and smart marketing. Let me start by offering my credentials. After all, what good is advice from someone who lacks any credible knowledge or experience on the topics about which he or she purports to be an expert? I was a licensed real estate agent in New England (I am deliberately vague for reasons that will later become obvious). I took the courses required to even sit for the real estate exam and subsequently passed the exam with one of the highest scores on record for that state. Even my broker was shocked to learn that I scored better on my exam than he had. Thereafter, I became a member of the National Association of Realtors, earning the right to the title of Realtor. I paid my required dues, and they were substantial, and attended all the required continuing education to maintain my license and Realtor title. I was recruited by and joined the ranks of Century 21, the #1 most recognized and trusted name in real estate, and endured several more weeks of the most intensive training in the industry. I completed an exhaustive course in marketing, wherein I learned all the many facets of competing for listings and representation of buyers. In my first few months as a licensed real estate agent, I grossed more than $2 million in sales. Shortly thereafter, I left New England and my real estate career behind. That, however, is another article in its own right. Thus, I have first hand knowledge of the many tricks of the trade and marketing exploits employed to win the confidence and, ultimately, the business of homeowners and buyers. Some of these methods are legitimate marketing tools utilized by reputable real estate agents. Others are nothing more than cons designed to manipulate naïve and, perhaps, desperate people into signing contracts that can, and usually do, result in financial hardship for the unwary homeowner or buyer. Real Estate Development Made Easy. If You Could Develop Real Estate Succesfully - How Often Would You Do It. Please do not misunderstand me. There are a number of extremely dedicated and trustworthy agents out there. I have had the privilege of working with some of them myself. Even so, I doubt I have to elaborate on the reasons why real estate agents are the subject of so much scrutiny and distrust. In recent years, real estate agents have been the target of numerous lawsuits alleging fraud, misrepresentation and negligence. Much like lawyers and used car salesmen, real estate agents have earned a nasty reputation as sleazy, money-hungry vultures in polyester suits. I, for one, never wore polyester! More importantly, my extremely heightened sense of justice precluded me from mastering the finer points of consumer deception. My opinions, therefore, on the tactics of some of the masters were not well received. Get Rich Buying Real Estate At 30-50% Discounts! Buy Probate Properties At Deep Discounts, With Much Less Competition. -- Heres The Proof. The most disreputable of all the agents I knew or had the misfortune of working with was, ironically, the hometown boy whom everyone knew and believed to be honest. Despite the fact that this man deviously plotted for months to open his own agency, while employed by a prominent and long-established agency, and subsequently stole agents and clients from his employer, the tiny, unaware community continued to offer him its support. What relevance does this have to my article? This same man, who boasted about his rather lax standards and admitted with glee to selling the wrong property to a buyer, now claims a significant portion of the real estate business in that area. He is charming, clean cut, and appears to be knowledgeable. Before long, unsuspecting potential clients begin to feel comfortable with him and actually buy into the cunning bill of goods he sells. He is not unique. Therein lies the danger. <