Things to Consider When Choosing a Real Estate Agent
Whether you are looking to buy, rent, or sell property; it is a good idea to carry out a bit of market research and have some insights before you make a final decision. There are plenty of risks involved when dealing with property or in similar competitive markets. Thus, you may want to consult a reputable real estate agent who has the know-how of the current real estate industry and its trends. Since there is a large pool of options to choose from, finding someone experienced, trustworthy, and reputable may be a challenging feat. It is crucial for you to connect with an experienced and reputed agent or organization. Otherwise, you can easily fall victim to scams or property fraud which, unfortunately, is getting more common day after day. Such agents may try to dig for an extra commission by offering you higher prices when you buy the property or lower prices when you sell it. Here are some things you need to keep in mind when entrusting yourself with a real estate agent.
Carry out your own research
When you’re looking for a real estate agent, keep several options in hand. Before choosing the first option you find legitimate, don’t make the decision hastily. Instead, do some research on all the options you have found, then shortlist one or two.
View their work portfolio
Having a look at the agent’s work portfolio will allow you to evaluate his knowledge and experience. It will also give you details regarding previous projects he has worked on, and what types of projects he plans on competing in the future. Most agents and companies have their portfolios listed on their official websites. Browsing their website may also provide you with reviews and testimonials of other homeowners.
Assess their honesty
Once you have shortlisted the agents, you can run a background check on them to assess their honesty and trustworthiness. You may ask the agent for the pros and cons of the property they are selling to you. If they repeatedly mention the pros and simply ignore the cons, then they are most probably bluffing. In case it is possible, getting in touch with their past clients or other realtors for their reviews might help you in this regard. If their experiences were hassle-free, then it is likely that the real estate agent is good at what he does.
Good communication skills
This can be an essential aspect when dealing with property contracts. Having solid communication skills would allow the agent to better understand your requirements and provide you with suitable options. It can also be the key to getting negotiations settled when buying the property.
Market knowledge
A real estate agent should have complete knowledge of the current market trends, pricing policies, and legal proceedings. You must also make sure that they are licensed and certified.
Referrals
References from trusted members of your social circle, whether friends or family, are an effective way to discover a realtor. Whenever presented with a long list of alternatives and limited knowledge, allowing another person to lead you in the direction of a specific trusted agent with whom they had a good experience is important and very helpful. Other than asking for references from individuals that you’ve known well, it is also beneficial to receive references from the families living in your neighborhood that have similar tastes, lives, histories, and other aspects as you.
Interview of Agents
Taking an interview is a part of the selection, whatever the case may be. Interviews are for getting an overall idea about the person, his vibe, his aura, his punctuality, and his seriousness. An interview tells us where exactly a person stands. While interviewing a realtor, you learn about his experience, methods, and recommendations.
Prioritize Skill
You get all of the information required to make an ultimate decision at this stage in the choosing phase. Consider the following principal questions when coming up with a verdict based on the knowledge you finally gather:
Who has the most knowledge of the local market? Who has more experience dealing with customers like yourself? Who has the most positive feedback? Who reduces the most money for buyers?
In the end, it is important to realize that the right realtor will always give you the best options according to your convenience. That is how you will know which one is the right one for you. Make a smarter choice; entrust yourself with Premier Choice International!