A lot of people go into the process of selling their home without ever considering how to choose a real estate agent. The truth is, this decision can impact everything from your marketing strategy, to negotiations with potential buyers. With that in mind, it’s important not only to understand what makes for a good realtor, but also how you might find one who suits your needs and personality best.
Choosing the right real estate agent is an important decision. There are some things you can do to help make your decision easier. One of them is making sure that they have a lot of experience in the area where you live, or where your home will be located. You should also ask for referrals from friends and family members who’ve used their services before, and then speak with each person to hear about their experience with that specific agent.
Factors to consider when choosing a real estate agent
Deciding on a real estate agent to sell your home is an important decision. There are many things you need to consider before hiring someone. From their experience and past sales numbers to how proactive they are in their approach. If you’re not careful, it can cost you dearly in the long run if your new agent doesn’t have the experience or expertise that will help get your property sold as quickly as possible.
To make sure you hire the best real estate agent for the job, here’s what to do:
- Do some research and ask around about different agents in your area;
- Read reviews of them. Be sure to check Yelp reviews from both current and previous clients from online review sites such as Google Reviews;
- Ask friends who they recommend;
- Look at their website for examples of work they’ve done recently (ideally recent photos); and lastly,
- Check their credentials with professional associations.
- Check their market knowledge – How much do they know about the housing market?
- Integrity- Does their background check come up with any red flags
- Guidance during the process- Will they provide advice on what steps to take next or will they
Questions to ask a realtor before making an offer on a home
What questions should you ask your real estate agent before making an offer on a home? There are many considerations to take into account when looking at a property. The following list can help guide potential sellers through some of the key points to consider when inquiring about an offer:
Questions related to their professional experience:
- What is your professional background?
- What kinds of homes do you typically sell?
- How long have you been selling homes?
- How long have you been in this business?
- Do you like working with people like me, or would I be better off going elsewhere for representation?
Questions related to their selling process:
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- If I were to make an offer on this property, will my financing be approved by your lender?
- Is there anything specific that I should know about this neighborhood or location that might affect my decision-making process?
- What is your commission rate on this particular property?
- How many offers do you anticipate being submitted for this property, and how does my offer stack up against them
- Will you be able to represent me if there are any issues with the purchase of this property after it closes?
What you’re looking for: A strong work ethic, positive attitude, enthusiasm for their profession. Often overlooked but important : They should be licensed by their state Real Estate Commission as a Real Estate Salesperson or Real Estate Broker. Lenders require this license to participate in the loan process.
