Purchasing a house and putting a home for sale is no easy decision, especially without the help of a realtor. When you’ve decided to buy or sell, it’s critical to opt for a good real estate consultant who can help walk you through the entire process.
There are plenty of realtors trying to get your attention with their yard signs, online marketing, and newspaper listings. Although in such tough competition, hiring the finest expert might become difficult. There are so many options available so ensure you choose a good realtor. Let’s learn how you can find a reliable agent with the help of this guide.
Get A Mortgage Approval
Several homebuyers engage a realtor’s services and start searching for their dream and luxury homes before they even speak to a mortgage lender. Speaking to a lender is important because they help you determine how much you can afford.
This helps you because you learn how much money you can borrow and identify any problems that must be fixed right away. This enables you to filter your search for houses in your ideal price range.
Additionally, it will demonstrate to realtors your seriousness as a purchaser. In competitive real estate markets, having a pre-approval letter makes you stand out from the rest of the buyers and puts you in the good eyes of the sellers.
Get Recommendations From Family And Friends
You can find an excellent real estate consultant by asking individuals in your network for recommendations. It’d be a massive plus if they’ve already worked with clients with the same needs and requirements as you. Like, if you’re a first-time seller or buyer, then your priorities will be different from repeat home-sellers and buyers.
When finding an agent, you should look for someone with a capital “R” because this indicates that they’re a National Association of Realtors (NAR) member. Also, such realtors have officially committed to upholding the organization’s code of ethics.
A lot of real estate agents have certain certifications that demonstrate that they’ve received training in a particular field of expertise. Some of them are:
- Certified Residential Specialist: People who have gotten this certificate have completed extra training in dealing with residential properties.
- Senior’s Real Estate Specialist: Successfully finished training geared toward assisting purchasers and sellers who are above the age of 50.
- Accredited Buyer’s Representative: Has obtained intensive training in assisting purchasers in deals.
Seller’s and Buyer’s Agents
When you’re in the process of finding an agent, keep in mind the differences between a buyer’s and a seller’s agent. As the name indicates, the former stands in for the buyer and asks all the relevant questions that would help in making the purchase decision.
While the latter is in charge of the seller’s side, which includes setting the price and advertising the home. Dual agency refers to a situation where one agent represents two parties simultaneously.
Although, be mindful that certain states don’t permit this action, and there might be some risks attached to this option if you opt for it. Another risky situation is when an agent works as a referral agent, supplying leads to other realtors in exchange for money.
Evaluate Promising Realtors
Check out a realtor’s online profile first. Investigate the agent’s online presence by visiting their website, following them on social media, and reading their previous client’s testimonials. If they’ve one or two bad reviews, then it’s not a deal breaker. More than that? Then you have to dig a little deeper.
Get in touch with your state’s realtor regulator, as they can help you verify a consultant’s license status or inquire about any disciplinary measures that might’ve been done against them. You should also go to Better Business Bureau to check out if there are complaints filed against the realtors.
Interviews
You can learn more about the style and background of the agent during an interview. In the end, you’re searching for an individual who’s knowledgeable about your desired neighborhood, is aware of your budget, and is responsive to your requirements.
Check out whether a real estate broker’s proposal is well-crafted and formal. The harder they try to convince you is equivalent to the effort they’re willing to put into getting you your luxury home.
Also, ask as many questions as you can from these agents. Let’s take a look at a few sample questions:
- How much experience do you have in real estate?
- Do you work independently or are you employed by a real estate agency?
- How many clients are you currently working with?
- What’s the average time you take to close a deal?
- How do you research a particular neighborhood and add a client’s needs to the mix?
- What percentage do they take as a commission fee?
Questions like these help you get a better look into their working habits and how much effort they put into getting you your perfect oasis. If this is your first time purchasing a house, then find out how they’ve assisted other people in your situation. Also, ensure what kind of support you can anticipate from them throughout the process.
The same holds true for other uncommon circumstances, such as moving from another state and acquiring a foreclosed property. You can learn more about the agent’s chosen form of contact and availability during interviews. For instance, if you prefer calls and plan to tour properties on weekends, you have to find an agent who’s flexible enough to work with your schedule.
Obtain And Validate References
Ask your shortlisted agents from reputable real estate relocation companies about the deals they’ve closed in the last 12 months. This includes the names and contact details of a few clients.
Contact those customers to learn more about their experiences and the level of assistance the realtor gave them during the transaction. Find out if they would hire these agents again if they wanted to buy a house or put their home for sale.
If you want to find some of the best realtors in Brevard County, check out Realty World Curri Properties. Their professional real estate agents have years of experience and have helped tons of home buyers, sellers, and investors find the best home in their budget.
Whether you’re searching for properties for sale in Satellite Beach, Lansing Island Homes, or commercial properties, their consultants can help you out! Reach out to them!
About The Author
Janet Lewis is an expert realtor helping buyers and sellers in Volusia County get the best deal for the past ten years.
