How Do I Choose the Best Real Estate Agent in My Local Area?
Since new homes in the market have climbed 32.6%, it’s never been a better time to find the best real estate agent. In larger areas such as large cities, the prices have increased by 43%.
All of these numbers might have you scratching your head wondering how to make it work. The good news is that a real estate agent can help you score a good deal and negotiate with the seller. Read on to explore the top ways to find the best real estate agent in your area today!
1. Obtain Referrals
When you’re searching for a military realtor, you’ll want to reach out to friends and family to obtain referrals. Ask your friends who have had similar experiences as you about who they chose.
2. Experience
First-time home buyers might make the mistake of choosing a realtor who isn’t experienced. First, look for an agent who has the R in realtor capitalized. Capitalized Realtor means that they’re part of the National Association of Realtors.
They might also have different certifications to show their strengths. If they have an ABR (Accredited Buyer’s Representative), this means that they have additional training in transactions for buyers.
Another training is the SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist). This is where you help those 50 and over with buying and selling a home. CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) is where you receive extra training for residential real estate.
3. Check Out the Local Market
Do a drive-by of the area and see if you find a common theme of repeat names for realtors. Pay attention to the signs that say sold underneath them.
4. Compare Agents
When you perform a search online to find the best realtor, check out their social networks and website. See how many reviews that they have. While one bad review isn’t necessarily a red flag, avoid those who have multiple bad reviews.
See what others say about the real estate agent in their review. Pay attention to how the agent responds to negative reviews.
5. Ask Questions
Ask them different questions regarding the real estate market including how they’ll market your home if you’re a seller. Find out if they’ll be able to give you some references that you can contact regarding their past.
You might want to ask if they’re part of a team as well. The realtor should be able to tell you if they’re able to handle unique situations.
6. Identify Communication Styles
Keep in mind that each person might have different communication styles and you’ll want someone who matches yours. If you prefer phone calls and they’re more about emails then you might not be the best match.
Finding the Best Real Estate Agent in Your Area
After exploring this guide, you should have a better idea of what to expect in order to find the best real estate agent. Take your time speaking to different real estate agents in order to decide who is right for you.
Would you like to read more real estate content? Check out our other articles today!