How to Find a Great Real Estate Agent you can trust
1. Talk to a lender before you hire a real estate agent
Sometimes home buyers hire a real estate agent and dive into the search for homes before speaking with a lender. Most experts recommend that you first talk to a lender to find out how much you can afford.
Getting pre-approved for a mortgage will provide you with the maximum amount you can borrow and will identify the issues you need to work on early in the process. This helps you stick to homes in the correct price range and will show potential realtors (and sellers) that you are a serious buyer. In competitive markets, you will need a pre-approval letter for buyers to consider your offer.
2. Get referrals from your network
Ask your friends and family if they can recommend a real estate agent they have had a good experience with. Ideally, you want someone with experience working with clients who are similar to you. The needs of first-time buyers, for example, are different from those of regular buyers or homeowners looking to downsize.
Look for a real estate agent who is a real estate broker with a capital R. That means you are a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and that you have formally agreed to abide by the group's code of ethics. Some real estate agents also have certifications to show that they have completed training in a certain area of real estate. Some designations include:
CRS (Certified Residential Specialist): Completed additional training in residential real estate management.
ABR (Accredited Buyers Representative) - Complete additional training on representing buyers in transactions.
SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist): Comprehensive training aimed at helping buyers and sellers aged 50 and over.
3. Research potential candidates
Start by examining your online presence. Check out their websites and the active social media accounts they use to promote their ads. Take a look at their online reviews too. Don't worry about a negative review or two, but more than that could be a red flag.
Check with your state's real estate regulator to find out if an agent you are considering is licensed or has any disciplinary action. Check the candidates you are interviewing on your local Better Business Bureau website to see if they have received any complaints.
4. Interview at least three real estate agents.
This is your chance to get a taste of the real estate agent's style and expertise. Ultimately, you are looking for a real estate agent who is familiar with a particular area and understands your budgeting needs. "See how refined and professional your proposal is," says Better Business Bureau spokesperson Katherine Hutt. “The more effort they put into a presentation for you, the more effort they will put into presentations when they work for you.
You want someone who is really smart. "Interviews also give you the opportunity to find out the agent's preferred communication method and their availability. If you feel more comfortable texting and expect to visit their homes after business hours during the week, what you need is an agent who is willing to do so
5. Ask for references and check them
Ask real estate agents to provide information on the houses they have listed and sold in the last year, with contact information for at least some recent clients. Call those clients to learn about their experience and what kind of support the agent provided throughout the process, including during negotiations. Ask if they would rehire that agent for your next real estate transaction.
6. Follow your instincts.
Just as important as the knowledge and experience they provide. An agent contributes is their ability to seamlessly guide you through the process. Go with an agent you trust who will help you
Make sure you feel comfortable if the road to closure gets a bit bumpy. "It's like dating, sometimes you just get into stry chemistry," says Herman Chan, associate broker and real estate agent at Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty in Berkeley, California. go with her. There are many other real estate agents who will be happy to help you and who might be a better fit for your personality. "
7. Take a Closer Look at Your Lease
Your lease should spell out all the terms you have already agreed to, including the real estate commission. Traditionally, the seller pays 6 percent of the home's sale price for real estate commissions. , half from your own real estate agent and a half from the buyer's agent.
However, the commission rate is negotiable, with the average commission approaching 5 percent in recent years. Another factor to consider: the length of the contract at yes. Look for a contract limited to six months or less. In a competitive seller's market, it can take less than 30 days to sell a home, according to the NAR.
If your lease is much longer than that and not yet If you sold your home in a reasonable amount of time so that you can switch to another agent Likewise if as a buyer you haven't found the home you want in a few months, it helps to keep your options open.
8. Create a shortlist of agents
Thanks to Google, you can easily find tens to hundreds of agents in your area with just a few keystrokes. However, you will generally find more detailed information about agents through a real estate website. One of the best places to start your search is the Zillow Agent Finder, which allows you to view a comprehensive list of local agents with their customer testimonials and recent listings.
The recent listings feature is especially useful. First, you can use it to find agents who have recently worked with sellers or buyers in the area you are considering. If you are selling your home, it also allows you to analyze how each agent photographs and markets their listings. For example, does each listing look professional and attractive? Is there a video tour? Other useful websites include Realtor.com and HomeLight. Make a list of at least three agents you are interested in interviewing.
9. Ask lots of questions
Now that you have a shortlist of agents, your next step is to speak with them in person. Yes, you can do a phone interview, but meeting in person is better. A face-to-face meeting allows you to get a real idea of who this person is, what their values are, and if their personality will fit well with yours.
This is the person who will guide you through a stressful and financially significant process; you need to feel comfortable talking to them.
You also need to know if they will tell you the truth instead of sugarcoating some bad news. And you need to know that you share the same core values.
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