Need a Destin Realtor? - Let's Examine the Facts

Were you thinking of buying some property in Destin, Florida? I hope that you've thoroughly educated yourself on the market and are ready to proceed - having done over 50 million in property transactions in my time, I have a few helpful hints for you as you begin your search.

I have found in my own experience that about 95% or agents and brokers really aren't going to help you much - however, the other 5% of them can be a lifesaver. This may sound like a harsh assessment, but I've found it to be the case in Destin and everywhere else I've ever dealt with properties. For our purposes here, I'm going to go ahead and assume you're looking for something here in Destin; so you'll want to find Destin realtors to help you out.

First, go to Google and search the phrase "Destin Realtor". You'll get abut a zillion results - start looking at the pages which come up. What do you notice about them?

For most, boy they all look exactly the same. So, let me see if I can summarize the typical web site. There we be a smiling picture, there will be a "search the MLS", there will be a my listings, has about me, and has about the community. What more could a visitor possibly want, right?

Having done my share of searching for real estate agents all over the country, I'll tell you what you won't find on these sites: no way to tell whether or not he or she has any idea what they are talking about. I know that any agent can show me the MLS and that they could take me around to look at some properties.

But why would you want to work with a broker or agent who isn't truly an expert and knows the market in their area intimately? I know that's the kind of agent I'd rather work with.

So how can you find the top 5% of Destin realtors? While there are a lot of ways to find a realtor, the first step to finding a truly great one is to become familiar with the market yourself. In a recent blog post, I suggested that buyers take some time and check out realtor.com to study the market in depth in any area where they are considering buying.

Why do this? You'll want to know if the realtors you talk to will really be any help to you as you look for properties in Destin. You should tell the broker or agent exactly what you're looking for then just let them talk - if they're good, they'll understand and start giving you information you can really use. If not, they'll probably make little sense and keep trying to interest you in one or two particular properties.

Even if you think you have the best person on your first call, don't stop there. Interview a few more until you are absolutely convinced you have the right person. Now you are in a position to really start working hand in hand with person finding the right property for you in Destin.

Looking for Destin realtor info? Dr. Chris Anderson's Destin blog is an excellent place to start your search.