Many folks ask me if it is worthwhile for them to connect with a realtor and if so who specifically should they be looking to connect with? It is of the utmost importance to have a real estate agent on your team and maybe even a few as these folks can really help you sale your home or find the right property for you. You need to be sure to find those agents who understand exactly what you are looking for and will bring you buyers/sellers/deals that work for you. Specifically, I look for those agents that know my desired area/price range/market extremely well and even more important are trustworthy and reliable.
When looking for a real estate agent, make sure to talk to other folks and when you find someone you like that checks all your boxes make sure to get some references from them. These realtors will not only help you find properties but they will also help you sell those properties much faster than you can do on your own. The right agent will help you tremendously and save you a lot of money and time but beware of those lazy/untrustworthy agents as they are quite numerous in this field. Do your due diligence and find the right realtor/s and you will be pleasantly surprised how they can help you.
It is vital for any home buyer or seller to have a great agent on their team. I always look for recommendations when deciding on a realtor to work alongside. If you are buying and selling properties in multiple cities, you definitely want a realtor in each one of those markets. I have three great realtors on my team, I need all three because each one of them brings an expertise on a specific market.
Most experts recommend agents with five or more years of experience, which is not to say that someone with less can’t do a good job. Sometimes less experience means a smaller client base, which translates into more attention for you. Make sure the agent is licensed by the state and does the job full-time. Believe it or not but a lot of realtors sell houses as a side hustle, you want to make sure you find someone that is a realtor full time. Approximately half of all agents are designated Realtors, which means they belong to the National Association of Realtors and agree to abide by National Association of Realtor’s stringent code of ethics, which I believe is important.
Real Estate is a local game, and to win you need someone who plays in the areas that you are looking to buy in. Not only will they be aware of the market trends, but they will know where the best schools are located, the various commute times, and under-the-radar red flag issues that could affect a home’s value or potential re-sale value. A strong real estate agent will make their client aware of the great deals and steer them away from the bad ones and always educate them of what to be aware of with a property.
You should always ask the realtor about what’s currently on the market in your price range, they should be able to rattle off a few properties. And ask for a list of houses they’ve handled in your target neighborhood that includes not just what the house sold for, but also the price at which it was originally listed. Beware of the realtor who just sends lists from the MLS and doesn’t know anything about your desired neighborhood or doesn’t put in the effort to find out more about your area and deals in your price range. Realtors are not known for their work ethic so make sure you find one that is willing to put the work in and do their homework for you.
I, like most other investors encourage buyers and sellers a like to interview at least three agents. Most people don’t though, they usually just settle on first guy or gal agent they come across who seems to have a good handle on their craft. Make sure to do your due diligence, below are a few tips to finding a great real estate agent to help you buy or sale your house.
- Always ask an agent for a list of recent references. This should include previous clients and should not include other realtors
- Ask each agent you’re considering how they plan to help you find the perfect home or market your home. Give them a bit of time to come up with an answer and see what they put together – you want someone who is going to go out of their way for you, not someone who will merely put your home on the MLS and have an open house.
- Pay attention to how realtor responds to your questions. Are they well-spoken and quick on their feet or merely just agreeing with everything you say to appease you. You want an agent that can negotiate and either market your property to get it sold or find you a great home at an awesome price. Not all realtors are able to do this and some can be intimidated quite easily. You want to find an agent that will give you great service throughout entire process
- Ask the agents you’re considering to provide a list of their recent sales, not just a general number of sales or sales volume. If you are selling a property, ask your agent for a list of sales from past 12 months and average days on market for those properties. You want someone that can sell not just list a property.
When choosing a realtor, make sure they know their market and have the type of work ethic to both find you deals and sell those deals quickly when you bring them business. I highly recommend choosing a realtor based on references from others, a strong work ethic and the right personality for the job, meaning you can get along with them and they do their job well. Agents need to be able to work with buyers and sellers and understand what each person is looking for, this is the key for any realtor. Remember, you want a realtor that can negotiate and that knows how to sale, not just someone that will list your property and wait for an offer. Find an agent that will work for you, someone that will be responsive to you and has that desire/motivation to do a great job. Great realtors are out there but if you don’t do your due diligence, you will most probably be stuck with a run of the mill agent that want work hard for you or any of their clients, so don’t settle and do your homework to find the best agent before signing an agreement. It may seem over the top, but having the right Realtor has a huge impact on whether you are able to sell your home, or buy the right one. It’s especially important that you feel confident in your decision when the time comes for any kind of negotiations. Someone who doesn’t really know what they’re doing can end up costing you, and they’ll still be paid a commission whether you get the best deal or not.
In closing, it’s definitely worth the extra effort to find someone whose personality, experience, and skill level fits your needs, and gets you the results you deserve.