WorldSelect® REO was retained to sell homes owned by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  As part of the agreement, WorldSelect® will be the exclusive listing broker for the largest territory in New York State.   

WorldSelect® REO provides brokerage solutions for the world's leading financial institutions and government agencies.  The company is headquartered in the Hudson Valley of New York.

For more info:

Web:  www.WorldSelectRealty.com 

Email:  info@wselect.com 

Phone: (800) 790-0939

Check credentials before hiring agent

By Karen Maserjian Shan
For the Poughkeepsie Journal

Trent R. Atkinson and Patrick Fleming knew each other as children. But that's not why Atkinson selected Fleming, president and licensed broker of Patrick Fleming Realty Corp. in Wappingers Falls, as a real estate agent when he was looking to buy a house. "His willingness to ask questions rather than pretend to know more about a topic than he actually did gave me a solid sense of security and trust," Atkinson said in an e-mail.

In fact, Atkinson had talked with three other agents before deciding to hire Fleming.

"The three major influences that I had taken into consideration were knowledge, availability, efficiency and trust," Atkinson said.

Fleming was up-front, helpful and personable, Atkinson said. He talked about financing, the market, Atkinson's needs, the process of purchasing and strategies when negotiating a price. Fleming also was able to put Atkinson in touch with local attorneys and financial institutions and was able to correspond with him via e-mail.

"The transition went as smoothly as possible with Patrick," said Atkinson, who, with Fleming's help, bought a house in Poughkeepsie in August 2003. "He knew exactly what I was looking for and never tried to talk me into anything otherwise."

Trust, experience and knowledge of the market are important factors to consider when choosing a real estate agent to help you buy or sell a home, Fleming said.

"We're dealing with an investment that, for most people, represents the largest financial stake they have," he said. "It demands more attention then most other professions out there."

Ask for referrals

To that end, look into an agent's level of experience and reputation by checking out a couple of referrals. You want someone who past clients speak of highly.

It's also a good idea to ask about what services the agent provides and to look at a sampling of his or her work.

"If you're going to be selling your house, it's very important for the agent to have good use of technology and very good marketing skills," Fleming said. These should include the ability to list homes with the area's multiple listing services, produce brochures for listed homes, write accurate descriptions of their properties and capture good digital photos of homes posted on the Internet and advertised in print.

"You want to pay close attention to the presentation and the materials they (the real estate agents) give you," said John Greenan, a licensed associate broker, who works with Fleming.

"Look at their level of organization — that's what they're going to be doing to your home — presenting it to the market."

Find out how often the agent keeps his or her clients updated and whether it's done via the phone, e-mail or in person.

"Are they going to sit down with you every two weeks or every week and go over the progress and feedback and market conditions?" Greenan said.

Technological savvy is another must.

"Buyers are finding the homes they want to see online and then contacting their agent, in many instances," Fleming said.

Survey: Web use on rise

In fact, in January, the National Association of Realtors reported Internet use to search for a home rose from 2 percent of buyers in 1995 to 77 percent in 2005, with 81 percent of buyers who use the Internet to search for a home, completing the purchase of property through a real estate agent.

Be sure your agent has e-mail, can send and open attachments and understands common computer terms, Fleming said.

It's also a good idea to ask how many listings an agent has, Greenan said, for an agent overloaded with properties may find it difficult to dedicate enough time to your needs.

"Someone with 50 listings may look good on paper, but is it really going to benefit you as a seller?" he asked.

Find out what contractual terms you can expect, including the term of the agreement, how commission is paid and at what percentage, what services will be provided. Ask whether the agent will be acting as a buyer's agent or a seller's agent.

Check on the designations, which may reflect the agent's dedication to the business.

Another question to ask is whether or not the agent is full time.

"You don't want a bartender that does real estate on the side," Fleming said. "Be sure of his level of commitment to the business and you."

Karen Maserjian Shan can be reached at journalhomes@optonline.net

- Patrick Fleming Realty Corp is now doing business under the name of WorldSelect® Real Estate. 

WorldSelect® Real Estate can be reached at:                                                                   PH (800) 790-0939, info@wselect.com or www.WSELECT.com

Patrick F. Fleming, CEO and principal broker of Patrick Fleming Realty Corp, is pleased to announce the launch of WorldSelect® Real Estate on July 4, 2007. The company will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Patrick Fleming Realty Corp. Effective immediately, WorldSelect® will assume responsibility for management, operations, sales, and service of the existing client-base of Patrick Fleming Realty Corp. 

WorldSelect® is a leading provider of real estate brokerage services.  The company's business principles and hiring standards reflect an uncompromising commitment to integrity, professionalism, and performance. 

For more info, visit http://www.WSELECT.com  |  PH (800) 790-0939 |  Email: info@wselect.com.