How to Find a Good Real Estate Agent
So you’ve decided you want to buy a home, congrats! All you need now is find a good real estate agent to make the process as smooth and painless as possible.
Here’s how to make sure you find a real estate agent that will actually do that.
Know a Guy who Knows a Guy
Real estate is all about word-of-mouth and building good relationships. If you’re selling your home and you had a good experience with the agent you bought it from, then they should be the first number you call. If you’re looking for someone new, ask y our friends or family. If they really liked their real estate agent the odds are you will too.
There’s nothing more trustworthy than the opinion of someone you know, but with the power of the internet you can still look for reviews on realtors in your desired area. Pay attention to things like any peer-given awards and how long they’ve been in business; after all experience and reputation are everything in real estate. And of course, look at their current listings to see if they have something you like.
Always Meet Face-to-Face
When you’ve created a short list of two to three real estate agents now it's time to set up face-to-face meetings to see if they're a good fit. Everybody’s different, and even someone with great reviews might just not mesh well with your personality or fully understand what you're looking for in a new home.
It’s important that you feel at ease and can work with your agent instead of just being treated like a commission. Ask lots of questions when buying a home including what strategies they have in mind, how they like to work and what references they have.
Make Sure They Know Your Market
Good agents should know all about the available properties in your neighbourhood of choice. If they did research on the criteria you want in a new home they should be able to give you some details about homes for sale or recently sold. If not then they haven’t done their research, and that’s no bueno.
A Few Things to Watch Out For
- commission should be around 5% split between the buying and selling agent, if it’s less, it’ll be harder to sell
- the agent doesn’t usually work within your price range
- the agent doesn’t usually deal in your type of property
- There’s more to think about than just the purchase cost. A good agent will be able to walk you through the steps of buying a home and help save money on some of the hidden costs
With these tips and a pinch of luck you shouldn’t have a problem finding the best real estate agent for your needs. Happy hunting!
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