The Buying Process
Finding a Broker
Track Record
The right broker for you will have a track record of happy clients and friends who enjoyed their buying experience and continue to have a relationship with the broker. Your broker introduces you to the area and guides you through a very important life decision. If done property, this is the start of an excellent ongoing relationship. When you are in town, how is your broker received by others? Do they seem genuine and honest? Do they love Costa Rica and the region of interest and do they seem excited about the opportunity to show it off? These are all the signs to look for, but how do we get a sense of their true track record?
Interview your potential broker for the job. How did they get into real estate? When did they get into real estate? What do they enjoy most? These type of open ended questions can really give you a sense of some ones motivations, intentions and competencies. Prospective employers and interrogation officers use these same type of open ended and informal questions known as behavioral interview questions. These give the broker the opportunity to show you who they really are.
Ask them to show you their resume. It is one thing to get a feel for the individual through an informal Q and A session, but there is serious money on the line. Make them show you some hard evidence. Have them introduce you to former clients or have them show you their certifications. Make sure you see their office and it is clear that real estate transactions are regularly done their. Have them show you properties that they have sold themselves.
If the process is thorough and focused on your wants and needs from the first contact to the close you have chosen the right broker. If they operate as your agent in the process, you know you have chosen some one who likely has a track record of working with clients that have had successful real estate buying experiences in Costa Rica.
