Finding The Right Realtor
Choosing a Realtor can be overwhelming. These days there seems to be so many of them that figuring out who to work with can seem pretty daunting. These tips will help you determine which one is right for you!
1. REFERRED:
This one is huge in my opinion. I’m willing to bet that someone you know has bought a home. Ask them who they used and what they thought of them. An honest opinion can really help narrow down the search. You want a Realtor that will work hard for you, show up, and give you the proper info.
2. REVIEWS:
With access to the internet now days it is very easy to check in on a Realtor to see how they work with others. Zillow and Realtor both show reviews, and past sales for the Realtor which should be considered.
3. FULL TIME V.S PART TIME:
This one can be controversial, there are plenty of part time Realtors that do a wonderful job. Some factors to consider with this option are a full time Realtor has the availability to show you properties regularly, while a part time may have their own schedule to work around. Full time Realtors also only receive income from selling homes, so they tend to be very driven to making sure they find you a home because there income depends on it. Full time Realtors also are staying up to date with new listings and properties hitting the market because they are constantly looking at this information all day long for other clients. Typically full time Realtors have around 7 to 10 clients they are always working with so they have an eye out for new properties that you may like!
4. PERSONALITY:
Personality is very important when considering who to work with. You want an agent that you can get along with, who makes you feel comfortable, but will get the job done for you. If you are a strong personality, you wont want a shy Realtor. Alternatively, if you are pretty easy going you may not want a Realtor who sends you 15 texts a day. Understanding what kind of personality works best for you is a good place to start, eliminate those who don’t match what you’re looking for.
5. EXPERT IN THE MARKET:
You want to make sure the person for you is the best suited for the area you are looking to buy or sell in. Smaller markets, the agents tend to have a pretty wide span of understanding as far as multiple school districts and maybe even different counties. Making sure your agent knows the area, this can be a major factor in making sure they are listing your home at the proper value or negotiating a purchase price that makes sense for the town (making sure you aren’t over paying).
6. SOCIAL MEDIA:
We live in a world of social media, lets be honest. Finding a Realtor that knows how to market themselves is beneficial not only for selling (typically means your house will sell quicker), but also for buying a home because the more active they are trying to pick up clients the more serious they take their job. A Realtor who is very lax about marketing themselves may not have the same ambition as one who is constantly trying to promote. Also, reviews on social media can be helpful but take them with a grain of salt. Always remember that we live in a society that is quick to share a negative experience rather than a positive one.
