This site is about what a Realtor is, and what a Realtor does for buyers (“Buyer’s Agents”) and sellers (Seller’s Agents) in Las Cruces and how to select the right Realtor for you.

• You will not find a list of Realtors or their websites.
  
  
• This site is NOT one in which Realtors pay to advertise.
  
  
• You WILL find out how to avoid the Internet traps that have been set for you to choose what might be exactly the wrong Realtor, for exactly the wrong reason.
  
  
• You will find out how to interview Realtors to get the information that you should have before choosing a realtor.

• Lastly, based on all of these factors, we will recommend a REALTOR® for anyone who is considering buying or selling a home in, or relocating to, Las Cruces, New Mexico.
  

Find Out What a REALTOR® Can Do For You that helps you through the complex process of Buying or Selling Real Estate, and assures you a quick, smooth, profitable transaction, with the least hassle for you.

Find out what a REALTOR ® does for a buyer.
(Click here)

Find out what a REALTOR® does for a seller.
(Click here)

The MOST IMPORTANT THING IS SELECTING THE RIGHT REALTOR FOR YOU

Before we get to what you need to do to select the right Realtor, I would like to spend a moment discussing a potential pitfall in the process. What I want to advise you is to consider using the process outlined below in making your selection no matter who or what entity suggests an Agent for you.

The list of possible sources for finding a Realtor is almost infinite:

1. You may know a Realtor personally or from a previous transaction.

2. You may have a “family member” that is a Realtor.

3. You may get a recommendation from a friend

4. You may be using the Internet in one form or another. This is the most dangerous method. Even though this is an internet site that will ultimately make a recommendation of a Realtor for you, that choice will be based on the criteria that we will subsequently discuss.

The reason that I can say this is that with the record number of homes being sold come a record number of new and inexperienced agents entering the market place. Number 1, 2, and 3 are pretty obvious. None of these sources gives you any guarantee or security that your choice is the best one for you. You should understand and believe that the wrong selection will cost you thousands of dollars.

When we get to agent source # 4, you need to know that a whole new industry of “middle men” has sprung up. These, fall into a number of categories all of which are bad for you, because there assurance the agent has the qualifications you need.

• First are the aggregators. These are companies that for a fee from the agent allow that agent to list themselves and their website on a larger site for you to search to find a realtor in your area.
  
  
• Similar to these are companies that advertise on the internet that they have a selected list of Agents in an area that they recommend for you. These companies often offer you something that they, or the agent, will provide for you as an enticement for getting your personal information. You need to know that these agents pay a fee for every “lead” they receive.
  
  
• Third are the companies that guarantee to place an Agent’s Website high up on the search engine result. You may be using the search engines to look at Realtor websites. What you need to know is that many of these sites are paid advertisements, or have paid a fee for their position hoping you will choose the site that you see first or perceive to be best because of their higher position in the search engine’s list.
  
  
• Lastly are the sources that seem the most credible. These are the Relocation Companies that your company may be using, or the Internet Relocation Sites, or the Internet Loan Companies. Generally they recommend or require you to use a given agent, they may even give you “reward” in terms of cash or merchandise for using that agent. What you need to know is that they get a referral fee back from the Agent that is a percentage of that Agent’s commission. This is their priority not your ultimate outcome.

Again, I say Buyer Beware. Before you select a Real Estate Agent to represent you consider using the process outlined below in making your selection no matter who or what entity suggests an Agent for you.

Without any obligation, you can invite local REALTORS® to visit with you and give you a "listing or buyer presentation" about why they're the best one to work for you. Two to three presentations will probably give you a good opportunity for choice. The REALTOR® should review with you the reasons why you should work with that particular individual, but most importantly they should answer all your questions, and provide you with information that will assist you in making initial decisions about buying or selling your home. What questions should you ask?

Whether you are a buyer or seller you will want a clear answer to this question. This is called “Agency”. It will determine how much information and representation that the agent is required to give you and how much information the agent will reveal to the other party in the transaction. (Click here for a full explanation of Agency and the New Mexico Agency Disclosure Form)

Beyond the question of who the agent represents, you need to ask any potential agent that is going to represent you the following list of questions. The answers will help you determine whether the Agent you are interviewing is the right one for you.

Questions to Ask When Choosing a REALTOR®

1. How long have you been in residential real estate sales? Is it your full-time job? While experience is no guarantee of skill, real estate, like many other professions, it is certainly a good barometer.
   
   
2. What designations do you hold? (Designations, such as ABR, GRI, CRS, and e-Pro, which require that real estate professionals take additional, specialized real estate training, are held by only a small percentage real estate practitioners.)
   
   
3. How many homes did you and your company sell last year?
   
   
4. How many days did it take you to sell the average home? How did that compare to the overall market?
   
   
5. How close to the initial asking prices of the homes you sold were the final sale prices?
   
   
6. What types of specific marketing systems and approaches will you use to sell my home? Look for someone who has aggressive, innovative approaches, not just someone who’s going to put a sign in the yard and hope for the best.
   
   
7. Will you represent me exclusively, or will you represent both the buyer and the seller in the transaction? While it’s usually legal to represent both parties in a transaction, it’s important to understand where the practitioner’s obligations lie. A good practitioner will explain the agency relationship to you and describe the rights of each party. It’s also possible to insist that the practitioner represent you exclusively.
   
   
8. Can you recommend service providers who can assist me in obtaining a mortgage, making repairs on my home, and other things I need done? (Keep in mind here that real estate professionals should generally recommend more than one provider and should tell you if they receive any compensation from any provider.)
   
   
9. What type of support and supervision does your brokerage office provide to you? (Having resources, such as in-house services & support staff, can help a real estate professional sell your home.)
   
   
10. What’s your business philosophy? (While there’s no right answer to this question, the response will help you assess what’s important to the real estate practitioner—fast sales, service, etc.—and determine how closely the practitioner’s goals and business emphasis mesh with your own.)
    
    
11. How will you keep me informed about the progress of my transaction? How frequently? Using what media? (Again, this is not a question with a correct answer, but that one reflects your desires. Do you want updates twice a week or don’t want to be bothered unless there’s a hot prospect? Do you prefer phone, e-mail, or a personal visit?)
    
    
12. Could you please give me the names and phone numbers of your three most recent clients?

Evelyn Bruder, ABR, GRI, CRS, e-Pro
Click on each credential to see what it means & why it is so important for you!

Evelyn is a full-time agent of Las Cruces with extensive knowledge, significant marketing and sales experience, as well as technological expertise, as is expressed in her credentials, and as attested to by her clients. She has a high level of professionalism, and the commitment to guarantee your goals will be met .

“Since 1988, I have been dedicated to matching people with just the right property. I approach each client and each real estate transaction with hard work, business savvy, and a keen market sense that has consistently made me one of the top agents in Las Cruces. My commitment is to provide my clients with personal and caring service." Evelyn Bruder

To Learn About Evelyn and See Her Credentials
(click here)

To see the Testimonials and References of Evelyn’s Recent Clients (click here)

To see a 3- Year Record of Evelyn’s Buyers & Seller Transactions (click here)

To See The Full Details Of Evelyn’s VIP Buyer and/ or Seller Agency Services (click here)