Tuesday, August 10, 2021 / by Mike Shoaff
A Real Estate Agent Is Key to Buying the Home You’ve Dreamt About
The key to keeping your cool during your house hunting endeavor is to have a top-notch real estate agent on your team. That agent will walk you through the entire house buying experience and answer any questions you may have.
But, how do you choose a realtor? Well, you’ve come to the right place because we have a few tips for choosing your perfect agent.
1. Know what you want in a realtor and a home
Before you begin your house search, you should take the time to think about what you’re looking for in a house and a realtor. Ask yourself these questions (these are just a few examples): Do you want an agent who specializes in selling single-family homes?
2. Embrace technology to aid in your search
Times have changed and instead of looking through a phone book for real estate agents, we’re using the internet - which is great! However, you don’t want to go with just the first name that pops up. Use search engines, review sites, and the like to find a few agents that you think you’d like to work with.
3. Ask for recommendations from real-life clients
Along with your internet search, you’ll want to ask people in your real life if they have any experience with a realtor. If so, ask them about their experience, both good and bad.
4. Interviewing agents will help you choose
By now, you should have a few realtors in mind that you’d like to contact. You’ll want to reach out to those agents asd ask for an in-person meeting (or a video chat if you prefer). If they agree, ask them about their experience, what kind of housing they deal with, if they’ve worked with clients that are similar to you (what kind of loan you have, whether you’re looking for a property to flip or an investment property, to name a few examples).
5. Don’t ignore your gut feelings
No matter the situation, we rely on our gut to tell us if something is good or if we should steer clear. When you’re looking for a realtor, you should also follow that rule of thumb. If you get the feeling that they are 100% invested in your conversation, if they give off shady vibes, or your personality just doesn’t mesh well… Don’t be afraid to thank them for their time and move on to the next agent.
6. Don’t forget to ask about their professional connections
The realtor isn’t going to be the only professional you’ll come in contact with when buying a house. This means you’ll want to ask the agent about their professional connections (home inspectors and assessors, lenders, landscapers, contractors, etc.). If the agent doesn’t have a list they can share with you, consider this a red flag.
7. Compare your findings
You should have been taking notes when you’re interviewing agents and when you’ve completed the interview process, look over the notes. Compare the qualifications, experience, and overall feeling you got when meeting with them.
8. Say “You’re hired!”
Top agents share insights regarding the market indicating that it’s a booming seller’s market and it won’t let up anytime soon. That’s why you’ll want to take your time when choosing an agent! After you’ve done your research, compiled and compared your notes, you’ll get the chance to call one of the agents and say, “You’re hired!” Now, the fun (looking at houses) can really begin!