Choosing The Perfect Realtor For You

Picking the right Realtor is one of the most important aspects of buying or selling your home. The difference between a good and bad Realtor can literally be tens of thousands of dollars, either in or out of your pockets.  

So you want to get it right.

But, how do you know who is good?

Do you use that guy that your friend’s sister’s boyfriend said was good?  What about the person who keeps slipping handwritten letters under your door? She’s spunky. Or, that dude Ken something that has all those bus stop ads – he says he can sell your house after all.  

Funny.  

Here’s the thing, though. Marketing or word of mouth is a place to start your search for a Realtor, not where to end it. You should take your time and do your research before agreeing to have someone represent you in this important transaction.    

Here are some things to ask before hiring a Real Estate Agent so that you end up in a relationship that works for you.  

Show me your work? 

You need to get references. And, you need to call them.  

Note that’s a plural. Don’t just call one. Have a list of questions ready to ask and make sure that you are getting real answers. This is likely the most expensive transaction you will be involved in during your life. Treat it as such.  

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Baby I got your money? 

…is what you don’t want your Realtor to say. It’s important to have an open conversation about what fees you will be charged. There can be some variation between agents and, although they deserve to be compensated fairly, you also need to protect your interests in the transaction.  

She doesn’t even go here! 

When it comes to Real Estate, local knowledge is what you want. Make sure that your agent knows your neighborhood well. Otherwise, you may be blind to challenges that a property might face.  

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Time is on your side? 

Perhaps the most important consideration is how much time the agent can dedicate to your sale. It is, after all, one of the most important things you’ll ever do. To you.  

To them, it might just be task 3 on their Tuesday afternoon to-do list.  

Although you can’t expect your agent to give you all of their time, you do want to make sure they are able to give you an appropriate amount of time. Sometimes it might be better to go with a smaller, less established Realtor than a big, well-known one. It all depends on your needs, but regardless you need to have the conversation.  

 After going through this list, you should have a good idea of how to find the right real estate agent for you.  

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