In today’s real estate market, you need to know then facts and be able to move quickly. That’s why the majority of home buyers and sellers work with a real estate agent (89% of sellers and 88% of buyers, according to the National Association of Realtors). An experienced agent can help you identify the things you need to do to make the best possible offer or to get the best deal when selling a home.
Here are some tips for finding the right agent to represent you...
BE PREPARED
For Buyers—
Being prepared and knowing what you want will make it easier for you to find an agent that fits your needs. As a buyer, you should get preapproved for a mortgage ahead of time, so you know how much house you can afford. You should also have a good idea on the towns you are interested in and a list of must have’s in a home. Of course, this often changes over the time you are searching…
For Sellers—
Find someone who is active and experienced in your area
Do they know the town? Have they transacted there in the past? Are they are full time agent, or is this something they do on the side? You want to make sure your listing agent has a pulse on the current market and relationships with other brokers in the area.
Take a look at their social media. You can learn a lot about an agent and their marketing strategies by seeing what they post online.
FIND SOMEONE WHO MEETS YOUR NEEDS AND FITS YOUR PERSONALITY
A big reason it’s so important to meet and get to know more about your prospective real estate agent is because of the right personality fit. You and your agent are going to spend a lot of time together, so social chemistry is very important.
The right agent can also help you navigate the emotional side of a home purchase. Buying a home can be a very stressful transaction. We’re talking about a lot of money changing hands. This is especially true if you are a first time home buyer.
Whether buying or selling, ask your potential agent:
- What hours they are available for showings.
- What hours they are available to answer questions.
- What is their preferred method of communication.
- Will you be working directly with them or mostly with a staff member or assistant.
Make sure you are comfortable with their answers before signing any agreements.
And then we get to the legal stuff…BE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GIVING, AND WHAT YOU ARE GETTING
Once you’ve found the person you want to work with, you’ll usually need to put that commitment in writing.
A typical exclusivity agreement with a real estate brokerage is for three months for buyer representation, and a seller’s listing agreement is a six-month commitment on average. However, the duration of these contracts is negotiable depending on the market and your needs. Just make sure that you are comfortable with the length of your commitment.
If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, contact me to see if I am the right fit for you!
