Tristate Living
Whether you’re moving to the region or need to find a new home in the Tristate, experts agree that there is a lot of value in choosing a Cincinnati-based REALTOR to assist with your search.
“They can really tell you the ins and outs of the area,” says Quivari ‘Q’ Jackson, a REALTOR® with Key Realty. “But also because, as a REALTOR®, we have to abide by the National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics. You’re going to make sure that you’re going to get professionalism when you hire a REALTOR®. We also are going to be held accountable—we can be fined and/or lose our license if we don’t do the right thing.”
Springfield Township
“REALTORS® have a higher standard and there’s more training involved,” adds DaVan Gassett, a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker West Shell and member of the Board of Directors of the REALTOR® Alliance of Greater Cincinnati. “They know how to communicate. They know the process and steps of purchasing.”
Under the Code of Ethics, a REALTOR® cannot mislead an owner regarding the property’s value, must avoid exaggeration of facts related to a property and cannot buy or sell property that they own or will own without revealing their status as a REALTOR®.
Both Jackson and Gassett can speak to the importance of having a quality, Cincinnati-based REALTOR® when purchasing a home. Both were inspired to become REALTORS® after having experienced issues buying their first home in the region.
“When I moved here, I did know someone working for a real estate agent, but they really didn’t go the extra mile or not even the mile,” says Jackson. “When we came from Arkansas to Cincinnati, the house fell through. We had to scramble to get a hotel. We had to put all this stuff in storage. It was a complete mess.
“I didn’t want no one else to have that experience. And that’s why I got a REALTOR® license here in Cincinnati.”
Gassett, a Cincinnati native, says his first experience with a real estate agent was also eye-opening.
“I had a real estate agent I was working with. I didn’t feel that they were communicating the way that I would have wanted them to as a first-time home buyer,” he says. “So I was like, ‘Well, hey, let me try and get into it.’ So, I started taking the classes, I took the test and here we are.”
Anderson Township
In addition to guaranteeing an ethical and professional experience, a Cincinnati-based REALTOR® can help homebuyers navigate Cincinnati’s 52 neighborhoods and numerous suburbs to find the right community. At the same time, REALTORS® are careful not to favor specific neighborhoods or areas. For example, they can’t advise you on picking a school district. They can only point you to resources to help you determine what’s best for your family on your own. But they can help you identify which communities work best with your interests and lifestyle.
“What are some of the things they like? Do they want a backyard? Do they not want a backyard? That can make a difference as far as in what area they’re in,” says Gassett. “You say you don’t want a yard at all, and you might be downtown. You say you want a yard, and you might be in Oakley, or you may be in Madisonville or any other neighborhood for that matter that has a backyard.”
“[REALTORS®] can really tell you the ins and out of the area,” adds Jackson. “Do they like walking? Do they like riding their bikes? Do they just want an urban setting, or do they want to be away from people? Do they want to be near a lot of restaurants or parks or different things of that nature? Do they want to be close to the city? Do they want to be on the outskirts of the city?”
Jackson and Gassett advise prospective homebuyers to volunteer this information to their REALTOR® to help narrow down their options.
“I think it’s up to the agent to also work with them and guide them in a direction of seeing some different options to where they can determine what’s a good fit for them,” adds Gassett.
– Corinne Minard