Did you know that the typical American home was only on the market for one week before being sold in 2020? Whether you want to buy or sell your house, houses aren’t lasting long on the real estate market.
Many people choose to buy or sell a house without a realtor, but hiring a realtor, from Finlay brewer or a similar company, can make the process easier. Real estate agents have plenty of market knowledge, professional networks, and excellent negotiation skills.
Are you wondering how to choose the best real estate agent? If so, keep reading to learn how to pick the best realtor in your local area.
Determine Your Goals
Before you start looking for a real estate agent, you need to determine your goals. Do you plan on selling your current home or buying a new house? Are you working on a tight budget, or do you have millions to spend?
Your goals will determine what type of real estate agent you should be working with. If you start the process by getting clear on your goals, finding the right agent will be easier.
Get Recommendations
When looking for the best real estate agent, you should start by getting recommendations. You can ask your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers if they have ever worked with a real estate agent.
If they have, find out who they worked with, what their experience was like, and if they would work with that real estate agent again in the future. You should also ask if they were buying or selling their house.
Research Real Estate Agents
Once you get recommendations from friends and family, you can use that list to start researching real estate agents. Some of the ways to do research include looking at the realtor’s website and checking out their social media.
You should look at their experience level, reviews, and online presence. Reading online reviews is a great way to see how people feel about the realtor and allows you to gauge the level of quality service you can expect. It goes without saying that you should find a realtor with experience dealing in locations that are of interest to you, as well as those that are related to property you already own. For example, if you’re looking for a cincinnati realtor, then you should hire the one who knows about the market in the area – this will allow them to lean on contacts or knowledge about the market in a specific area in order to get you the best price on a property, whether buying or selling.
It’s also important to pay attention to how the realtor responds to negative reviews. When looking at experience, choose a realtor that has experience helping people like you.
While some realtors may specialize in selling condos, others will be ideal for first-time homebuyers. The average real estate agent has eight years of experience.
Research the Housing Market
In addition to researching realtors, you also should learn more about the housing market. Learning more about the housing market will make it easier for you to choose the right agent.
To learn more about your local housing market, you should research historic house prices, look at current demand, and study different neighborhoods.
Knowing more about the housing market will help you understand what different real estate agents tell you. If you and the agent are on the same page, that is a good sign.
Interview Real Estate Agents
Once you find some good real estate agents, you should set up interviews with them. Before choosing a realtor, you should talk to at least three different realtors.
During the interview, you should ask the realtor more about their experience, current market challenges, negotiations, and how you can improve your current house.
You should also tell the realtor about your goals for selling or buying a new house. Asking these questions can help you tell if the realtor is a good choice for you.
While their answers to your questions matter, chemistry can be even more important. Make sure the realtor is someone you can trust and are comfortable with. The realtor should be patient and professional.
Prioritize Communication
When looking for the best real estate agent, you should pay attention to communication. If the real estate agent is impatient, unwilling to answer your questions, or doesn’t show up on time, that is a bad sign.
You should look for a real estate agent that is always willing to take your calls or answer your emails. That shows they are engaged in helping your buy or sell your house.
When you start working with a new agent, it’s always a good idea to explain your communication preferences.
Compare Costs
Did you know that you can buy or sell your house without a realtor? If saving money is your biggest priority, and you have extensive real estate knowledge, forgoing a realtor is a possibility.
For more people, buying or selling a house without a realtor isn’t an option. On average, you can expect to spend 5-6% of the total house value on real estate commission.
If any of the real estate agents you are working with charge more or less, you should ask questions to clarify the price. Keep in mind that where you live could affect the commission percentage.
Listen to Your Gut Feeling
One of the most important tips to keep in mind when choosing a real estate agent is to listen to your gut. If you don’t get good feelings from a realtor, you should find a different one.
Whether you are buying or selling a home, the process is stressful and expensive. You need to choose someone that you trust with your money, sanity, and time.
Are You Ready to Choose the Best Real Estate Agent?
Whether you are buying or selling your home, choosing the best real estate agent will make the process easier. When looking for a real estate agent, keep these tips in mind.
Did you enjoy reading this article on how to find a real estate agent? If so, check out the real estate talk category to learn more about being a first-time homebuyer.
