How to Choose the Perfect Real Estate Agent
When it comes to hiring a real estate agent, both for buying or selling a home, we’ve all heard horror stories; specifically, agents that were more concerned about the size of their commission than providing you with the best possible services. The truth is the ocean of potential real estate agents can be tricky waters to navigate, so here are a few things you should make sure to look into beforehand:
1.) What are their credentials? First and foremost, the amount of training and certifications a proper real estate agent must complete is actually quite daunting. Agents who are trying to cut corners in their field requirements will no doubt be looking to cut corners in other areas of their job, meaning there is definitely an increased chance of them selling you a shoddy home and leaving you high and dry. Make sure they have all the proper licensing and credentials required in your state.
2.) What is their experience? An important question to ask your agent is not how long they’ve been in the business, but how many buyers or sellers they represent. Many agents rely on the “I’ve been doing this for 20 years so I can assure you I know what I’m doing” line, when in reality they could have very well spent the first 19 years as an administrative assistant.
3.) How many first time home-buyers (or sellers) have they worked with? People buying or selling a home for the first time often take up more time and resources than those that are more experienced. Simply put, they just don’t know what they’re doing yet, so they often need someone to metaphorically (and sometimes quite literally) hold their hand throughout the process. An agent that has worked with first-timers in the past will probably have a better understanding of how to make it easier for them, and it also less likely to become impatient or frustrated with explaining things he wouldn’t have to spend time on with other clients.
4.) What are their connections? One of the main reasons of using a real estate agent at all is because they know people. A good agent should be able to point you in the direction of a credible home inspector, insurance agent, mortgage lender, and other professionals in the field. An agent that is clueless about this part of the process most likely has less experience than they lay claim to.
5.) What are their previous clients saying about them? And not the ones on their website. Of course an agent is going to post glowing reviews, but what about the not-so-positive feedback? That’s where sites like Yelp come in handy. Yelp allows customers to post all reviews, good or bad, so you get an idea of an agent from straight from the clients they have represented. Go through the reviews and see if you can notice any patterns. Was the service prompt but clients were consistently shown properties out of their price range? Is the agent knowledgeable, yet pushy? Were they a dream to work with in every category? Do your research! You can read Yelp reviews about Ardor Real Estate here.
What do you look for in a good real estate agent?
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Get an agent, but do not buy from the lintisg agent. The lintisg agent is REQUIRED to represent the best interests of the seller, and you’re going to want to have someone on your team (and ONLY your team). For Sale By Owner is fine, but they don’t always know what they are doing. For instance, they may not be aware that they are required to disclose ALL defects. If you buy a For Sale By Owner, you need to be able to confront them directly about any concerns you have and negotiate all your own terms. Do you know how to write a purchase offer that will hold up in court so that the seller is liable if they misrepresent the property. If you’re BUYING a property, use a reputable agent. The seller pays the commission so it won’t cost you a thing to benefit from their wealth of experience. I have bought and sold a LOT of houses, and I still use an agent for every transaction. They are worth their weight in gold! I’m currently in real estate school, and I can’t believe how much there is too know before obtaining a license. It’s not an easy job, and the piece of mind (as a buyer OR a seller) is priceless.
I would get a buyer’s agent. They will help guide you through the pseocrs, provide good referrals for lenders, inspectors, insurance agents, etc, and are obligated to work on your behalf unless they also happen to be the agent for the seller of the home you are interested in. The best part is they are essentially free to you because they are paid by splitting the commission with the selling agent, which is paid by the seller. When I purchased my first home in 2008, my buyer’s agent was great in finding homes in my price range and helped me understand the whole pseocrs, making the experience exciting rather than stressful. If you know of someone that recently purchased a home or is currently looking, ask them if they have, or are, using a buyers agent, or if they know one to recommend.