One of the most vital steps to purchasing a home is to hire the best real estate agent for the job. Your agent can make or break your home purchase so you need to make sure they’re up to scratch.
For the best experience, check out this handy guide on choosing the best real estate agent for you:
Find an agent with local expertise
Property prices and market trends are different depending on the neighborhood or city. This is why having a real estate agent with expert knowledge about your target communities is so important.
Your ideal realtor should be someone who knows the local real estate market like the back of their hand. This includes the type of properties in the area, price ranges, and other relevant market indicators. They should be able to provide educated advice on things like the best time to buy a home or what to expect when living in the area.
A local realtor can also provide valuable insights into the community that you can’t find anywhere else. They can tell you about the schools, lifestyle, recreation, homeowners associations, and future developments in the area.
Look for experience
Experience in a real estate agent’s portfolio reveals the substantial amount of time they accumulated in practicing and fine-tuning their industry skills. The knowledge they gained industry- and community-wise makes their advice incredibly valuable. Also, some aspects of being an agent are best learned on the job.
A seasoned agent won’t easily be thrown by unexpected issues that could occur. Having experienced highs and lows in the local market in the duration of their career, they will know the right kind of response to give when presented with a situation that’s out of the ordinary.
View their most recent transactions
Looking at a potential agent’s most recent transactions will give you a good idea of the type of properties they handle. This is especially helpful if you want a specific house. For example, if you’re interested in buying a new construction home, an agent whose recent sales involve these properties is ideal. Past transactions can also tell you the kind of communities they’re most well-versed in.
See if an agent is backed by a good team
When you’re looking at a home buying process checklist, you’ll see that there’s more to a property purchase than meets the eye. To have a successful home purchase, your agent should have a good team of real estate professionals backing them up.
Also, find out if an agent has strong connections within the industry and has access to reliable contractors, lenders, real estate attorneys, and the like. Having someone with a great network behind them will make your real estate journey run as smoothly as possible.
Interview potential agents
Buying a home is not just a financial decision but a personal one, as well. So, don’t just look at their credentials – see if there is enough potential for a healthy professional relationship between you and this real estate agent. See if this agent is one whom you can get along with and who has your best interests in mind.
To find out if there will be good chemistry between you and your agent, engage them in an interview. Ask them the following questions:
- How long have you been a real estate agent?
- How many buyers are you currently representing?
- What type of buyers do you typically represent (i.e. first-time buyers, vacation home buyers, etc.)?
- What’s the best way to contact you?
- What’s your strategy in helping me find the right property?
The interview is also the time to lay out your expectations and see if they’re willing to meet your standards. Discuss how you want to be updated about your transaction. Some prefer daily check-ins while others like weekly updates.
Find an agent who will be completely open about your transaction. You need someone honest enough to warn you about the risks of your purchase, not someone who will only tell you what you want to hear.
Ask for references
A great way to determine an agent’s work ethic, personality, and trustworthiness is through their references. Investigate their past client experience to figure out if a potential agent is a good fit for you. Also, check out online reviews and testimonials on their website.
If an agent can’t provide any references, it could mean that they don’t have a good relationship with past clients. In cases like these, it’s best to move on and continue your search.
If you’re looking for a home in Connecticut, get in touch with expert real estate agents Kathy Danais and Lisa Gordon. With over 30 years of combined experience in Connecticut real estate, we make sure our clients receive only the best service. Find your dream home with us today – call 860.214.1295 or 860.805.7722. You can also send an email to kathydanais(at)gmail(dotted)com or lgordonrealtor(at)gmail(dotted)com.