Hiring a great real estate agent can eliminate a lot of hassles that come with buying or selling a house. The best real estate agents are not necessarily the most expensive ones or the most popular ones, the perfect real estate agent is, in fact, someone who knows the market, conducts business in an ethical manner and listens to what you have to say. Finding such a real estate agent can be an arduous task. Here are some tips that will help you spot the real estate agent who will get you the best deal while eliminating any hurdles that may otherwise ruin your real estate experience.
1. Realtors vs Real Estate Agents - While all
Realtors are real estate agents, not all real estate agents can call themselves Realtors. Realtors are the real estate agents who are members of the National Association of Realtors and abide by a code of ethics that ensures that they follow the best practices while conducting their business, which are not necessarily mandated by law. Therefore, if you want professionalism at its best, then a Realtor is the way to go.
2. Client Reviews - A great way to list down potential real estate agents that may work for you is to ask your friends and families for referrals. A good real estate agent aims for the highest level of client satisfaction, so if your acquaintances were happy with the way a particular real estate agent conducted business, chances are that you will be too. You can also run an online search for the best real estate agents in your area, go through their website and try to look for genuine client reviews in order to shortlist the ones that you would like to meet in person.
3. Open Houses - Open houses offer a relatively informal environment where you can observe the real estate agent's behavior at close quarters. If you are looking to sell your property, pay attention to how enthusiastic the real estate agent is while showing the home to those who attend the open house. This is an opportunity to find out whether the agent is well-informed, polite, punctual, and professional. You can also collect business cards and make short notes as a reference for follow-up meetings.
4. Advertisements and Signs - Scour through the local newspapers for advertisements of real estate agencies as well as property listings. This will help you create a list of real estate agents in your locality. Also, in order to gauge the efficiency of a particular agent, pay attention to how quickly the "For Sale" sign goes down for a property. The agent who makes the quickest sales is usually your best bet.
5. Referrals from Professionals - Who better to recommend you a
real estate agent than a real estate agent themselves? Most professionals would be more than willing to recommend their associates to you, especially if what you are looking for does not lie within their own area of expertise or services that they offer. Also, if you know a trustworthy real estate agent in a different neighborhood, they could offer you some valuable recommendations regarding your neighborhood as well. So trust the professionals and don't hesitate in asking for a referral.
These handy tips will definitely help you find the perfect real estate agent who will make your next real estate transaction a breeze. Now you can rest easy because you have the right agent for the job!