The right listing agent for your short sale serves as a captain of the ship and is responsible for the overall success or failure of the voyage. The job of a short sale Realtor is not only to market the property and to find a short sale buyer, it is also to make sure that all parties understand the details of the process, that expectations are managed, and that the seller’s interests are protected at all times.

Although anyone can claim to be a short sale specialist, it is fairly easy to identify who is and who is not the right person of saving you from foreclosure. My recommendation is to start with the following questions, when selecting the short sale Realtor to represent you throughout the short sale process:

Contact us today and ASK US these questions.

• Are you a full time real estate agent?
• Do you specialize in short sales, if so for how long?
• Do you have a short sale designation or certification?
• How many short sale homes do you have currently listed?
• How many short sales listings of your own have you sold in the last 12 months?
• What is your percentage of under contract short sales that ended successful?
• How many short sales are you currently negotiating?
• Who handles your short sale negotiation?
• On average, how long does it take for you to close on a short sale transaction?
• What do you charge for your services, are there any up-front fees?
• What will you do if the investor/lender reduces your commission?
• What is your experience with my lender?
• Are you familiar with investor specific guidelines for my loan?
• Do you have a list of client reviews from sellers whose short sale you have closed?

Whenever possible ask for documentation to support the Realtor’s responses.

Asking all or at least some of the questions, listed above, should give you a sense of whether your potential short sale Realtor is the right person for the job. Inability to answer these questions with a high degree of certainty should serve as a warning and a signal to seek other opinions.

In these turbulent times, you can not afford to put your financial health into the hands of a mediocre professional.

If you’re considering a short sale and would like to discuss your options with a certified short sale specialist, contact us for a free, no obligation consultation.