Would you hire a realtor if they can’t produce their sales track record?

If they cannot produce their sales numbers they were not good. Anyone can provide their production numbers. I am not in RE, but am in a slaes business and whenever I come across this scenario, it is 100% becasue the person's numbers were terrible. It was not the case that they couldn't produce their numbers, rather, they didn't want to produce their numbers. Salespeople live and die by their numbers. Walk away and be happy you discovered this problem before you made it your problem.

I would not hire a broker that did not fairly disclose things. I would also be sure you get commitments up front on how you want the broker to behave.

NEVER. Go look at any realtor profile on the established broker sites and they all list their previous transactions. I would also ask any broker for at least 3 references.

Nope! Obviously young realtors have to start somewhere -- but then the disclosure is, "I'm just getting started, and so I'm hungrier than my competition and I'm dying to make my reputation on your sale."

I would worry about someone who can't even PR their own business.

ali r.
{downtown broker}

well, it all depends, perhaps the agent is someone who does not have a lot of transactions but is perfectly qualified to do the job. It is a tough call, anyway, when you hire an agent, you hire team of people, not just that person, unless that person runs the agency alone. I am amazed at how agents with 2000 listings, just keep getting more, who do you think does the job? they don't have time to pay attention to your listing, seriously. Further, what is their budget? if an agent is with a top company, each agent gets a budget, if have tons of listings, bye bye to budget, so, really, just as important as to how many properties you have sold or have listed, is the company for whom they work for, their character, i.e. will they co-broke, or go broke, and make you broke :) their education, their ability to come up with creative concepts to sell your property and think beyond any box, circle or reason :) give someone a chance for crying out loud.

real estate agent here

give em a chance? thats funny, Give em a chance with your money. MarketUpdate101 should go with the most experienced person they can find. Just by posting the question, seems like their strong suit is something other than RE. I, as many others on these Boards would probably throw a bone to a less experienced broker because we would feel that we could use that inexperience to our advantage. (demand harder work, accept our ideas etc.etc..)

patient09, "give em a chance? thats funny, Give em a chance with your money. " ha ha well obviously i know that selling a property is a tremendous responsibility and i am not suggesting that the person gives the listing someone who may be honest from the start, but like anything else, people in real estate come from various backgrounds and experiences, I worked in real estate before i became an agent, so i wasn't just green, as they call it :) I know people do whatever to get a listing so yes observe caution

*dishonest

BMW - that is crazy. The person is first LYING about their experience. And two - no one wants to be the guinnea pig.

bmw - the person is not saying, "Hey, I started in the business at a bad time and didn;t get great results due to the market. Here is what I produced and here is what I can promise....I'll be your hardest worker and pick-up everything you show me. I will make you proud for giving me a chance to prove myself." They are lying and saying, "I cannot produce my numbers."

Sorry....no sympathy for dishonest people here. What else will they lie about? Will they steal from me? How can I hire someone I cannot trust?