WHAT DO I LOOK FOR IN AN AGENT? SEVEN ESSENTIAL TIPS WHICH CONCERN BOTH BUYERS AND SELLERS
1)A GOOD FIT IS NEEDED FOR AGENTS AS WELL AS SHOES. As an "employer" what would you look for in a potential employee? When considering hiring any agent, the first thing you want to consider is: how comfortable do I feel with this person? A good fit is as important with agents as it is with a pair of shoes as you will walking down the path towards closing together. So fit is number one. 
2) Enthusiasm: Is this agent enthusiastic about my property? An enthusiast agent will exude a positive feeling, not only to you but to potential buyers.People prefer working with someone who has a positive attitude.
3) Brand; only 4% of consumers surveyed cared about National Brand- the truth is MLS Multiple Listing Service is not brand specific- but is universal among all agents and Real Estate Aggregating sites such as Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com and Active Rain.
4)WHAT ADDITIONAL FEES WILL THERE BE? Some agencies charge additional fees for services; typically these fees are passed on to consumers, such as management fees. So compare agencies and ask about fees in advance.
5) Appearance and Presentation & Preparation- does this person seem professional? Can they competently answer your questions? Do they give you a sense that they are knowledgeable and familiar with your area, and how are they going to market your property? How often will they be communicating with you and how well did they come prepared to the interview? Do they have current market sales, and are they local? What do they know about your specific community? If you are comfortable and confident you have found the right Sales Associate (real estate agent) that fits with your personality,shares your goals and is a good fit with you then by all means HIRE THEM.
6)Personal referrals work too-talking to friends and family about good experiences they have had and ask them who they hired to represent them-why they liked them, and how they felt that agent was the best at what they did and why.
7) Customer testimonials and public reviews- these are great resources for learning more about the service a good agent has given to previous clients. If you do not know anyone in the area you are moving to; a little research on the Internet is a great tool. In my market of St. Cloud/Kissimmee homes are purchased by many out of area buyers- and example of an effective video testimonial can be found here.
Whomever you choose make sure you are comfortable and the fit is a good one as you walk down the path of closing together. You need to feel confident every step of the way!
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