In the coming weeks, I’ll be giving you plenty of reasons to use a Real Estate agent. But let’s suppose that you already know all the reasons to use an agent, or you don’t know yet but something in your gut tells you it’s the right thing to do. You’ll need some advice on finding the right agent. Here are some useful tips to find the right Real Estate agent for your needs.
1. Don’t Look for Ms. “Right Now” Odds are better than even that you know someone who’s recently bought or sold a home. Your family or friends will be more than happy to tell you they know just the right person. Like finding the right pair of jeans (and we all know how that goes), there’s no “one size fits all.” The right agent for your cousin Carol or your Uncle Bob may not be the right fit for you. You don’t want a part-time agent; you want to make sure that your agent knows the market, knows the area, and is a good negotiator who will always have an eye toward closing. In addition to these things, I pride myself on being available to you at all times. I’ve been doing this long enough to know by now that the important questions don’t just come during business hours.
2. Think, Think, Think When you’ve found the right agent, you feel like a lucky individual. But buying or selling a home is too important to leave to chance. In order to make sure you’re getting the right answers, you need to start by making sure you’re asking the right questions. If you’re buying, you’ll need to consider things like the size of your family, not just now but in the future, and the community into which you’re thinking of moving. If you’re listing, you’ll need to know the ins and outs of the market, as well as the legal hurdles you’re facing, and how to get a fair price for your home. In fact, whether you’re buying or selling, I’m sure you could think of at least a dozen questions in the next five minutes. Think of my job as asking, or making sure you ask, the questions you wouldn’t otherwise have thought of.
3. Make a list If you were looking for medical advice, you’d get a second or even third opinion, right? Well, you’ll be spending nearly as much time in your home as you do in your body, and that makes getting the right service very important. I encourage you to do your homework, secure in the knowledge that you’ll find the service I provide to be beyond comparison.
4. Check it twice A good agent won’t hesitate to show and explain their credentials, or even to give you references if you need them to make your final decision. An agent who is a Realtor (that is, a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS) must adhere to a strict code of ethics, and is also expected to keep current on the rules, regulations, and other hurdles faced in the process of buying and selling a home. Further, consider a Realtor who, like me, is also a CNE (Certified Negotiation Expert); while we’re fewer and farther between, we bring with us training and a skill set that the average Realtor doesn’t have.
5. Communicate Even the best agents aren’t clairvoyant. We do our best to understand you, and to work in the best interests of those on both sides of the table. With that said, we’re only as good as the information we have. While we have extensive knowledge of rules, regulations, and the lay of the land, when it comes to helping you, it’s difficult to do that if you’re not in the picture. Help me to help you!
You’ll want an agent with whom you feel comfortable. He or she should understand you, know your needs, and always be ready to act in your best interest. As it happens, you’ve got an agent who fits the description perfectly right here… but don’t just take my word for it. Call me!
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