4 Ways To Find A Great Real Estate Agent
Finding the best real estate agent is an important step for people who want to buy property. A real estate agent can do a lot of things for you and make the whole process easier and smoother. For some people, hiring a real estate agent is a must and they can’t proceed without one.
Obviously, there are many real estate agents that you can hire. Just in your city alone, there must be dozens of them, so how do you pick the best one? And this article is going to answer that question.
Get referrals from other people
Just like with other services, you can get referrals from your network before deciding. Feel free to ask friends and family members if they know and can recommend a real estate agent. Preferably someone that they have had a chance to work with.
Ideally, you’ll want to know a real estate agent who has experience working with clients who are similar to you. So if you’re a first-time buyer, you want to work with an agent who knows how to work with clients like you.
Ask people about their experience with the agent, and how long did it take for them to finally buy a house. Make sure you know enough about the agent before getting in contact with them.
A real estate agent who has certifications
A real estate agent who is a Realtor with a capital R is someone who is a member of NAR (National Association of Realtors). Every member of NAR has formally agreed to comply with the group’s code of ethics.
Many Realtors also have certifications that prove they’ve completed training in a certain area of real estate. The certifications that you need to know are CRS (Certified Residential Specialist), ABR (Accredited Buyer’s Representative), SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist).
CRS is a certification for training in handling residential real estate, ABR is for additional training in representing buyers in transactions, and SRES is for training at helping buyers and sellers who are 50 years of age and older.
Knowing these certifications is very helpful if you need a specialized real estate agent. By looking for an agent who has certain certifications, you can narrow down your search and speed things up.
Know the difference between a buyer’s agent and a seller’s agent
Not many people know this, but buyer’s agent and seller’s agent are two different agents. The difference is simple: a buyer’s agent represents home buyers, while a seller’s agent, also known as a listing agent, represents home sellers.
That being said, some real estate agents act as an agent for both parties, this is known as dual agency. A dual agency is needed when a buyer and a seller are using the same brokerage for an agent. Keep in mind that some states don’t allow dual agency, and it has its own risks.
Interview at least three real estate agents
So now you have a bunch of real estate agents that you can hire. To play it safe, It’s recommended to interview at least three real estate agents. An interview is a great way to get to know the real estate agent. From their style, experience, to trustworthiness.
If you can do the interviews well, you will find out which agent knows more about a particular area than the rest. This is important because different areas have different markets, neighborhoods, prices, etc.
Use the interviews to tell them about your budget and needs. See how polished and professional their proposal is. The more effort they put into the presentation, the more effort they will put into this work. If a real estate agent knows how to handle your budget and deliver what you need, then they might be the one.
And it’s not just their negotiation skill and real estate knowledge that you need to know, but also their preferred method of communication and availability. Real estate agents have their own methods and schedules, make sure you hire one that is compatible with your day-to-day schedule.
Conclusion
Hiring a real estate requires you to do your homework first. But believe me, the results will be worth it. And you can save a lot of money by getting the best value of your budget.
