Choosing the right real estate agent is one of the most important decisions that you will make when you’re ready to buy a home. A good agent can help you navigate the buying process with minimal stress, whereas a not-so-good agent might make the process harder on you (and your bank account) than it needs to be. Your goal when you’re ready to choose a real estate agent is to find someone who you communicate well with, and who shares your same goals. Buying a house in a way that prioritizes your needs as a buyer and gets you the best home possible for the best price possible. In this post we’ll go over what all buyers should look for when they’re going to choose a real estate agent to help them with their home search.
What to Look for When Choosing a Real Estate Agent
Behind every good real estate agent is a set of skills that make them a top choice when you’re looking to buy a home. So what are these skills? Obviously you want someone with experience but the other skills will vary depending on your needs. We suggest you choose a real estate agent who has the qualities listed below.
Good Communication
Successfully buying a home is as much about communication between buyer and agent as well as buying agent with selling agent, as it is about open houses and inspections. Be sure to hire an agent who you communicate well with, and who is willing and able to answer any and all questions that you might have about the home purchasing process.
Personal Rapport
Ultimately, you want to choose a realtor who you get along with. You’re going to be spending a lot of time together, so it’s important to work with someone whose company you enjoy, and who you just genuinely feel understands your needs.
Positive Reviews
Online reviews are one of your best assets when it comes to choosing a realtor. Read all of the reviews that you can find before selecting who you’ll work with, and look for an agent whose previous clients have only positive things to say about their experiences.
Strong Local Market Knowledge
Every market is different. Whether you’re buying in a city, the suburbs, or the country, you’ll want a real estate agent who knows local market trends and patterns like the back of their hand and who can help guide you through the nuances of your specific locality.
Ready to Find an Agent? Here’s How to Do It
Finding a great real estate agent to help you buy a home won’t take you too much time if you know where to look.
Start by asking friends, families, coworkers, and anyone else whose opinion you trust on the matter if they have any local agent referrals. Previous buyers are one of your best assets for finding an agent, since they can speak honestly about their own experiences. Plus, you can trust that if someone you know is giving you a recommendation, chances are it’s because they enjoyed working with that agent and would work with them again.
If you don’t have anybody who you can ask for a referral, get on the internet. Use an online realtor search to browse agents in your area, then pull out a few names of agents you’re interested in working with and do a bit more research. Look to their reviews and their portfolio for information that can help guide your decision. Be sure to make a list of your needs ahead of time so you know what you’re looking for.
Find at least three different real estate agents who you think might be up to the task of helping you buy a home, and briefly interview each of them to see if they check off the traits you’ve listed. Don’t be afraid of being overly picky, this is a huge investment you’re making and you need to be sure you find someone who can make it as simple as possible.
Contact Us
Get in touch with us today to find a real estate agent that best suits your needs.
Charles Burt Realtors is your full service real estate agency with a ton of amazing real estate agents who are ready to help you find your dream home. You can contact us by filling out the contact form on our website.