How To Pick A Real Estate Agent In Today’s Complex Market
You’ve made the decision to buy or sell your home. Now you must decide who you will trust to represent you and your home’s best interest. Before you start asking your friends for references or hunting online, here is some advice to consider when selecting an agent.
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[list_item]Ask people that you trust for recommendations, but take their opinions with a grain of salt. Just because an agent worked out well for them, does not mean the agent has the right market experience for your home.[/list_item]
[list_item]Conduct your due diligence and read agent reviews and testimonials. A good place to start is on the agent’s website.[/list_item]
[list_item]Find an agent that specializes in what you’re looking for. What is their specific experience in your area and your market? If you’re looking to sell or purchase a million dollar home, look for someone who has successful experience doing so. Also, browse their other listings and see if you like what you see.[/list_item]
[list_item]Meet with the agent face-to-face. Listen to what they say, what their experience is and get to know their way of conducting business. It’s also important that you like your agent. Do you have a good rapport? If you like what you see, find out if they are interested in taking the next step.[/list_item]
[list_item]Set realistic expectations from the very start. Outline your needs and what you expect from them and see if they can meet your requirements.[/list_item]
[list_item]Don’t use friends or family. Selling or buying a home can be stressful. Leave your friends and family out of the real estate process in order not to jeopardize your valued relationships.[/list_item]
[list_item]Be wary of picking an agent who dually represents the buyer and the seller of the property you’re looking at. When it comes to real estate, transparency is a must and in that case, it may not be a possibility.[/list_item]
[list_item]Be clear and upfront if you’re not ready to take on an exclusive realtor. You can ask questions and advice, but make sure you’re 100% honest on where you stand.[/list_item]
[list_item]If after some time it’s not working out with your agent of choice, it’s completely okay to “break up” with your realtor and start fresh.[/list_item]
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