Finding A Real-Estate Agent
Having a real estate agent to help you out is essential when aiming for a quick and good deal, whether you are buying or selling your home or property. Selling your house is not just about placing a “for sale” sign in your lawn or placing your house in the classified ads. A real-estate agent would be able to help you sell your home for the right price and get the best deal possible.
There are many real-estate agents out there, how do you choose the right person?
Do the interviews yourself
The best way of getting to know an agent is by talking to them personally. You could directly discuss with them what they think about the property, know about their qualifications, ask about their previous transactions, any kind of problems with previous deals and seeing if the personality would be able to match yours. You could directly inform them what kind of communication you are expecting from them and it they would be able to reciprocate that expectation.
Qualifications and history
Check if they have enough experience and expertise, especially in your location. They may have an impressive record in other places but they would have limited knowledge in your area. Also look for any complaints filed against the agent in the State Board of Realtors.
Referrals
Ask your friend, family or relatives if they would be able to recommend somebody. If they would be recommending an agent, make sure to ask about their experience with the person. You could ask about how the agent communicated with the clients and of course, their fees. Before hiring the agent, identify first if they would be able to provide your needs and work with you.
Customer service
Your agent maybe good, but they may be difficult to contact or does not maintain open communication with you. That would surely create problems. If your agent has an assistant communicating with you, it is okay as long as they are present in important transactions and would go over the contracts themselves. How the agent communicates with clients show how they value the property and how serious they are in dealing.
Familiarity
The agent that you should be getting should be familiar with the market in the area where you are buying or selling your property. The agent should have an idea about the competition in the area, the neighborhood’s history of transaction and the usual price range in the location.
Contacts and access to tools
It is great to have an agent that would be able to find contacts that would match your needs as a client. Your real-estate agent should have access to Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This would allow your agent to have access to different properties in different areas to look for houses or properties which would match what you’re looking for.
Attend open houses
Attending open houses would allow you to see real-estate agents while working. You would be able to see how they handle transactions. You could observe how they promote the house (if the house is for sale) and you could even get a few business cards from other real estate agents.
