What the NFL Draft Can Teach Us When Picking an Agent

The famous NFL draft coming up. An event where each team’s fans rest their hopes and dreams on each pick leading them to football glory. While sports analysts and bloggers are frantically giving and updating their predictions daily, the front office of each team is constructing their draft board.

A draft board consists of a number of players they think will help their football team get better. Extensive observation of these players through combines and game tape, they are able to determine which player best fits their needs. (Will someone please tell the Steelers to draft a DB in the first round, please!)

While learning how GMs and coaches construct their draft board, I couldn’t help by think, why don’t consumers take this same mindset with their real estate agent?

So many prospective home buyers and sellers don’t do one thing they should, and that is shop around. Why not list exactly want you want in an agent that fits your personality, mindset, and goals for buying or selling your home?

So lets see how you should analyze agents to see who makes it to the top of your draft board:

Do They Have Relevant Experience?

Usually the first pick in the draft is a quarterback, as it will most likely be in this draft. One thing that coaches look for is their experience at the position and within a certain offensive scheme. More successful experiences will improve a player’s draft stock and allow for a coach to put more trust in that player’s ability.

This is the same thing with a real estate agent. What type of relevant experience to they have? Have they been successful? How long do their listings stay on the market? Do they have experience with advertising listings successfully? Find out all of their experience before making a decision.

Who are Their References?

Individuals with first-hand experiences are the best resources. They have been in the trenches with someone. They know how they react to stressful situations or if they work effectively in a group. NFL GMs always call trainers, coaches, family members and others of those who they intend on drafting. The NFL is a business and checking out an employee’s references is important before making the hire.

Always check and ask for references of a real estate agent. Learn who they have worked with, what their clients are saying, and even what those in their network are saying. References are an excellent way to determine if an agent can meet your needs.

Lets Check the Tape

Any football coach, scout or general manager will tell you they learn everything from a player through game tape. There is an old saying in football that, “the tape don’t lie”. A player can’t hide anything on tape. Coaches can see their technique, their effort and how they play the game overall. So you might say you do certain things, but if it is not on film it does not exist.

Agents can claim to do a lot of things. But asking for examples is the only way to check the game tape. How do they market their properties? How do they communicate with clients? Ask for examples and their plan on how they are going to help you get the results you need.

 

Be very thorough when creating your real estate agent draft board. When you are in your war room you will have all the information you need to make the best decision for you.