Traits of a Great Agent - 1st Time Home Buyer's Guide Kitsap County WA

Ten Traits of a Great Real Estate Agent/Broker in Kitsap County WA - 1st Time Home Buyer's Guide

This is the first installment in a 10-Part series of blog articles designed at helping 1st Time Home Buyers successfully achieve their home purchasing goals. In this series, I will identify and discuss, in chronological order, key events in the home buying process.

Today’s topic is entitled "Top Ten Traits of a Great Real Estate Agent - Part One"

One of the most satisfying and rewarding aspects of my career in real estate is helping people successfully achieve their home buying goals. This is especially true with 1st Time Home Buyers. There are few things better in life than helping someone, for the first time, realize their dreams of home ownership.

Before we begin though, let me first stress to you the importance of contracting with a licensed real estate professional to represent you in the home buying process, particularly if you are a 1st Time Buyer. As we will discuss further, you owe it to yourself to have someone who is dedicated solely to being your advocate, and representing your best interests.

Here are some common questions 1st Time Home Buyers often ask:

• How do I choose a real estate agent?
• Why is it so important to have an agent represent me in a home purchase?
• What qualities or traits should I look for when interviewing agents/brokers?

With that said, the following is a basic list of traits to consider when selecting your agent/broker:

Top Ten Traits of a Great Real Estate Agent

1. Advocate: Hopefully, as you begin your house buying adventure, you will hear a lot about real estate agency law. Professional agents/brokers take agency representation very seriously. There are very specific duties, responsibilities, and obligations that a licensed agent/broker is mandated by State law to fulfill to their clients. Listing Agents are under contract with the Sellers. They only represent the Sellers best interests, not the Buyers. A Buyer’s Agent owes their fiduciary or statutory duties and obligations solely to the Buyer. When you meet with a prospective agent, ask them to explain agency law. Ask them whom they would represent in the purchase transaction. A great agent is passionate about working for their Buyer’s best interests.

2. Knowledgeable: A great agent is a knowledgeable agent. They understand local, State, and Federal laws concerning real estate. They are proficient with all types of purchase & sale contracts, and can explain all the various forms and addendums to you. They know the local market they serve intimately, inside and out, and can provide you with valued counsel based on their experience and local market expertise.

3. Ethical: Licensed real estate professionals are held to a very high standard, The NAR Code of Ethics. While there may be the occasional bad apple, most agents genuinely strive to maintain these ethical practices in their daily business. They don’t just talk about being ethical, it’s a foundational element of who and what they are.

4. Accessible: Great agents will make themselves easily accessible and available to their clients. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they have no life and you can call them 24/7 with your questions. But it does mean that they will make you feel as though you’re their only client! If they aren’t available to take your call, they’ll actually return your messages promptly and on the same day! (gee, what a concept!) Great agents also know how to leverage new technologies to provide greater accessibility for their clients.

5. Communicator: A great agent creates and maintain constant and effective lines of communication with their clients. Part of that process is determining what the clients preferred form of communication is, and simply accomodating that preference. Good, clear communication is especially critical for 1st Time Buyers. They can never have too much information.

That completes Part One. Look for the remaining 5 Traits of a Great Real Estate Agent, Part Two, in my next article in the 1st Time Home Buyer's Guide.

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional with Keller Williams West Sound, providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SoundBiteBlog, Crabbing in the Hood.