Does it make sense to you, if you are buying real estate in a different area that you are not familiar with, that you would choose to work with a REALTOR who actually lives in the area? Especially if it is a totally different county and/or city? It makes sense to me and I can give you examples of big errors made by buyers especially coming or going into an area and instead of getting the local REALTOR to show them properties, they use Uncle Joe or Aunt Betty or a friend they know that sells real estate, and typically those people are not familiar with the area.
We all want a sell. But a good REALTOR will refer you out to another REALTOR in the area you are choosing so you can be represented and actually benefit from the information known by that local REALTOR.
Case in point, about 3 years ago I had a rural listing. I knew at the time that the talk in the area was about a landfill going in that specific place, within 2 miles of the house. The seller did not like that I disclosed the potential for this landfill, so when our listing expired, they listed with an out of town agent. Probably not even a REALTOR, there is a difference.
What happened? House sold. Yeah Seller. Seller tells me later that the agent never showed the property. Buyers had come down by themselves and looked at it, loved it and bought it. Yes, the agent wrote the contract and collected the commission check at closing. HAD the agent actually come to Harper County, they would have seen signs all over the place, and many not far from the actual house his buyers bought. "Say NO to the landfill" and other signs showing for a fact that it was being discussed. Agent would have known it for a fact if they were local and would have hopefully, disclosed it to the buyer. No, no disclosure.
I ask seller if they disclosed it to the buyer and no, she hadn't. She understood where I came from, but didn't want to ruin the sale. People want to work with an honest agent, but only when it is to their benefit.
My heart went out to the buyer who later immediately put their house on the market. It ended up in foreclosure and still sits empty today.
Moral of the story? Use a local REALTOR who can tell you about the area because we live in it day to day. We hear about the potential problems in our specific area and those REALTORS, that are honest and upright can help you make an intelligent, well informed decision.
You have many choices in real estate...make a wise one.
Mary Welch
Broker/Owner Preferred Choice Realty-Harper, Kansas
Harper City Council member
Harper County Economic Development Board Member