Finding the perfect real estate agent can make life easier when buying and selling property and vice versa. Working with someone who doesn’t understand what you need or cannot deliver the right property to view and or give you the right advice can make this experience a negative one.
But what can you do to ensure that your real estate agent is a great fit and is working to help you in the best way possible?
Referrals
In the first instance, you can ask family, friends, or colleagues for their input on real estate agents. If they’ve bought property recently, especially, ask them who they used and would recommend. This can give you a better insight into what you can expect based on real-life experiences. Take their feedback on board when making your shortlist to find the right real estate agent for your property search.
Check Current Listings
If you’re looking for a more visual way of determining who to choose for your real estate agent, you can look at their current listings. What type of party are they currently selling? Do they work in your area code or the area you’re trying to buy in? You should also consider the website oto. Is it visibly appealing? Does it have good-quality images, plenty of information content, and contact details? If it doesn’t look professional, or you struggle to find information, you might not want to move forward with based on the website.
Check My Knowledge
When meeting with different real estate agents, you want to make sure that they have a good knowledge of the local area and the current real estate market. This is crucial as it helps them understand the value of properties, predict market trends, and guide you in making informed decisions. Ask about properties that have recently been on the market, or you’re looking at. Even if they are not directly involved in the sale, they should have some knowledge of it as well as fluctuations in the local market, up-and-coming areas, regeneration, and more to help you find the perfect property in the desired location.
Interview Multiple Agents
Don’t rush into choosing the first agent you meet. Take the time to interview several agents to understand their approach and how they can assist you in your property purchase. This proactive approach ensures you find an agent who will guide and support you rather than overwhelm you.
During the interviews, ask them for recent properties and references they’ve sold and pay attention to how they direct the conversation. A good real estate agent should be a good listener and understand your needs and preferences. How they interact and engage with you will give you a good idea of your future relationship and communications, which is important to understand.
Attend Open Houses
Attending open houses hosted by the agents is a great way to initiate a more informal conversation and get a feel for how they are in a professional context. It allows you to observe their communication skills, attention to detail, and interactions with potential buyers. This can help you assess their professionalism and how proactive they’ll be with you as their client.
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I like the idea of interviewing multiple agents/agencies! It’s such a huge decision – best to have a perfect match.
Finding someone you trust is important!
I like the idea of attending open houses to see how the agents works.
Sounds like solid advice! The idea of attending open houses is a great one!