Most of us don’t have the knowledge, time, or patience to buy and sell real estate on our own. Real estate agents help simplify the process by taking on many of the complex duties involved in real estate deals.
But how do you pick the right agent for you? Here are a few tips to help you choose the best:
Know what you’re getting from them
There are plenty of real estate agents out there, but not every agent will answer your needs to your satisfaction. While every agent will help you buy or sell property, each one will have their own areas of specialization. Some agents may be experts at luxury homes; others may concentrate on multi-family homes. The firms may likewise offer the most basic of services while others may tout extras like responding to counteroffers, reviewing real estate contracts, and analyzing the market. If you can’t get a full-service agent, at least learn what they can and cannot do before you decide to hire them.
Make sure you click with your agent
Buying and selling real estate is a lengthy process, and through it all you’re going to be communicating with and through your agent. Make sure you’re on the same wavelength and can speak clearly to each other.
Research the agent, not the firm
Because real estate agents are part of a larger firm or business, much of their personal reputation isn’t used in advertisements. While knowing a firm’s business history is certainly a good thing, take the time to research an agent you may be interested in working with to see what past clients have to say.
Note the signs in your neighborhood
A good way to track an agent’s effectiveness at selling, at least from a distance, is to keep tabs on the “for sale” signs you see around your neighborhood. Take note when a sign goes up and when the property is sold. This can provide you with a general idea of how good the agent is at selling, as well as give you a potential estimate of how quickly you can sell your property.
Don’t go easy on the interview
When you first sit down to talk to a real estate agent, they’ll usually take control of the conversation so that they can understand what your needs are. However, it’s as important for you to speak up. Ask them any questions you may have – whether it’s about the buying or selling process, the scope of their services, or the names of their past clients so you can check out how their experience was like with the agent. If an agent is going to work for you, it only makes sense that you learn as much as you can about how they work.
Attend open houses
This is an incredibly useful tip that’s all-too-often overlooked. Open houses are about showing off homes to potential buyers, but it’s also a good opportunity to meet real estate agents in your area and get to know them a little bit while you’re still shopping around. The underlying theme to all of these is this – get to know your agent before you hire them. Knowing what they can do and how they communicate is the key to have a smooth buying or selling experience.
If you’re looking for a home in the Houston area, we are the right real estate professionals for you. We’ll work with you whatever your budget. Get in touch our seasoned agents at Hunter Real Estate Group. Call (713) 572-0824 today or send an email to trace(at)hunterrealestategroup(dotted)com.