Finding The Right Real Estate Agent
When you have the right realtor with the knowledge and experience needed to help pull off your home purchase don’t let them go. A good realtor can make your home purchase process smooth, enjoyable, and productive; while the wrong realtor can quickly put you into a purchase situation you don’t want to be in.
In this article, we’ll discuss how you can go about finding the right real estate agent to make your home purchasing dreams come true.
Familiarity with the Area
If you have a particular area that you are trying to purchase a home in, it’s essential that you work with a real estate agent that is very familiar with the local market. An experienced realtor will be able to help you quickly locate homes that fit what you’re looking for and for the best price; not to mention, they’ll know neighborhoods and other areas to stay away from.
Check Licenses
You definitely don’t want to work with an agent that isn’t properly licensed and certified. Collect the following information from a realtor you’re considering first:
- Full name
- Address
- Realtor license ID #
You can then visit a website such as arello.com in order to verify the license and it being current. During this process, you can also check to see if the realtor in question has other applicable certifications, such as:
- Counselor of Real Estate
- Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager
- Certified Residential Specialist
- Certified International Property Specialist
- Graduate Realtor Institute
- Accredited Land Consultant
- Accredited Buyer Representative
- Accredited Residential Manager
- Seniors Real Estate Specialist
When your realtor has more certifications than just the basic real estate license, it shows that they are motivated in their field and have further experience and expertise in a particular area.
Read Reviews
Often, there is no better way to secure a reputable realtor than to check reviews and history with previous buyers. An online search should give you a selection of reviews to read from past clients; be sure to look at the reviews constructively and read both the positive and the negative ones to get a balanced view on the agent. You can also check with any realtor you are considering and ask for references you can speak to in order to hear about their past experiences.
Knowledge of the Market
Get to know any realtor you’re considering and speak with them about their market knowledge. Even when you don’t know a lot about real estate or the particular area you are buying in, you should still be able to gauge your real estate agents expertise simply by speaking with them and asking questions. Make notes of their answers to questions you have and other alternate information they give you and you can verify later if needed to check reliability.
Gut Instinct
Above all, listen to your gut when you’re selecting an agent to work with. If your sensors go off and something doesn’t feel right, even if you can’t place your finger on what it is, walk away. There are plenty of other realtors you can use; don’t feel pressured to stick with one in particular.
Get Recommendations from Your Mortgage Lender
More often than not, the lender you have chosen to work with or have obtained your pre-approval form will have a list of realtors that they have experience in working with. They can usually recommend a good realtor for you based on your needs (which they are already familiar with) and their history. This can be a good place to seek referrals because it’s in your mortgage lender’s best interest to ensure you are placed in a home you are happy with and can afford; they’ll want you to use a credible and experienced realtor.