Whether you’re buying your first home or selling to downsize, employing a Realtor® means you are engaging with a member of the largest professional organization is the US. Members total nearly 9,000 in the St. Louis area.

1. A real estate transaction is complicated.
In most cases, buying or selling a home requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page government-mandated settlement statements. A knowledgeable agent can guide you through this complex process and can help you avoid delays or costly mistakes.

2. Selling or buying a home is time consuming.
Even in a strong market, homes in our area stay on the market for an average of 50 days. And it usually takes another 45 days or so for the transaction to close after an offer is accepted.

3. Real estate has its own language.
If you don’t know a CMA from a PUD, you can understand why it’s important to work with someone who speaks that language.

4. REALTORS® have done it before.
Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. And even if you’ve done it before, laws and regulations constantly change. That’s why having an expert on your side is critical.

5. REALTORS® provide objectivity.
Since a home often symbolizes family, rest, and security, not just four walls and roof, home selling or buying is often a very emotional undertaking. And for most people, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you keep focused on both the business and emotional issues most important to you.

6. REALTORS® are members of the
National Association of REALTORS®
A trade organization of nearly 1 million members nationwide. REALTORS® subscribe to a stringent code of ethics that helps guarantee the highest level of service and integrity.

When is a Real Estate Agent a REALTOR®?
A real estate agent is a REALTOR® when he or she becomes a member of the National association of REALTORS® ,The Voice for Real Estate®, the world’s largest professional association. The term “REALTOR®” is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and abides by its strict Code of Ethics. Founded in 1908, NAR has grown from its original nucleus of 120 members to more than 1 million today. NAR is composed of REALTORS® who are involved in residential and commercial real estate as brokers, salespeople, property managers, appraisers, counselors, and others who are engaged in all aspects of the real estate industry. Members belong to one or more of 1,700 local associations/boards and 54 state and territory associations of REALTORS® and can join one of our many institutes, societies, and councils. Additionally, NAR offers members the opportunity to be active in our appraisal and international real estate specialty sections. REALTORS® are pledged to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Working for America’s property owners, the National Association of REALTORS® provides a facility for professional development, research, and exchange of information among its members.

Code of Ethics
The Code establishes time-honored and baseline principles that come from the collective experiences of REALTORS® since the Code of Ethics was first established in 1913. Those principles can be loosely defined as:

Loyalty to clients; Fiduciary (legal) duty to clients; Cooperation with competitors; Truthfulness in statements and advertising; and non-interference in exclusive relationships that other REALTORS® have with their clients.

Portions reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.

Naert Realty offers listing and marketing services to sellers, as well as guidance in helping you find your next home. Call Naert Realty at 314-773-5700 or e-mail at info@naertrealty.com.

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