If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, one of the most important decisions you will make is picking the right real estate agent. However, when most people give a great deal of time and thought to choosing a home, they spend very little time when they choose their real estate agent.
It should go without saying that if you want a smooth and trouble-free buying or selling experience for your home, you first have to find a competent real estate agent. Sadly, it doesn’t always turn out this way, as many homebuyers are anxious to buy or sell and rush through choosing a real estate agent.
Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions that you will have to make. The process can be complicated. With so much at stake, you need to know you are working with a professional who will help find the right home for you and possibly sell your home at the right price and negotiate the best deal.
You may also be interested to know that the National Association of Realtors is the largest commercial association in the United States, with over 1.3 million members who offer a high standard of quality, so you should not find it hard to find someone qualified to help you.
How do you choose a good real estate agent? Start by looking outside your door. Drive or walk around your neighborhood and take a look at the for sale signs. Are there many different companies or does one seem to have the monopoly? Are the signs well maintained? Do you see SOLD signs within weeks, or rarely at all? This shows you if the properties are being actively marketed or not. If a real estate agent isn’t marketing other properties well, the chances are they won’t do any better for you either.
Talk the agent’s previous clients and ask them questions about the real estate agent, such as:
How well did they handle the process?
What did they like and dislike about the real estate agent?
Were their needs listened to?
Did he negotiate the best terms?
A good way to meet agents casually is to visit open house viewings that an agent is hosting. In this way you can tell how professional, informative and friendly they are. However, you should always interview an agent you meet in this way, as this might be his only area of expertise.
You might need more experience in an agent, so find out his specialties, success rate and experience. This applies equally to any agent whether recommended by a friend, relative, or someone that you cold called.
Looking at various company web sites can also provide useful information. Look to see if there are virtual tours, good photos and then decide how comprehensive they are. What about their information–is it descriptive or obviously over-embellished? Read real estate blogs. These will give an idea of the agent’s personality and the type of issues they are used to handling. You will need to read between the lines as some reveal little information whereas other will be frank and candid.
Once you have chosen your real estate agent, make sure you have a written agreement, which spells out your requirements and one where they work for you exclusively. Overpricing your home keeps it on the market longer. A good agent will assist you in setting a price that is in comparison with others like yours that have sold recently in your area. It should be high enough to give maximum profits, but not too high where it will scare off buyers.
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