7 Secrets to Hiring the Best Real Estate Agent
A good real estate agent can make or break your home buying or selling experience. The good ones are willing to work hard for their money — and you. Don’t waste your time with an agent who isn’t. Separate the best from the rest in seven easy steps.
Choose a respected company. “Deal with a company that has a good reputation in your community,” advises Dorcas Helfant, principal broker and managing partner for Caldwell Banker Professional Realtors in Virginia. Respected real estate firms will have a vested interest in the area and its property values, and most likely have better trained agents than their competitors.
Check professional standing. “Is the agent a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR)?” Helfant asks. These agents tend to have more training than other real estate agents and must stick to a strict code of ethics. Look for the Realtor designation on the agent’s business card, or simply ask if they belong to NAR. Also, contact the governing agency in your state. Ask if the agent is in good standing and holds an active real estate license.
Search for a specialist. Many agents have areas of expertise. Buying land? You may want an Accredited Land Consultant.
Searching for a home? Look for a Certified Residential Specialist. A Certified International Property Specialist can even help you set up house in another country. The list goes on. Ask the agents you interview what area they excel in, or search by specialty on NAR’s consumer Web site at www.realtor.com.
Ask about free services. Agents work for larger companies, many of which offer free services to their clients. Ask what their firm can do for you beyond putting a sign in your yard or driving you around to look at homes. You may like the extra benefits that come with using certain companies.
Judge presentation. On their first meeting with you, a qualified agent should outline their strategy for selling your home or helping you buy one. “They should have something for you to understand their services, their firm, what they offer in the community, and how they can assist you.” If they don’t”, she replies, “keep interviewing until you find a presentation that meets your standards.”
Interview references. “Good professional people in our business live on their referrals,” says Helfant. Ask all the agents you interview for a list of past clients, then call those people. “Talk to some of the references,” she says. Ask how well their agent served them, and if they would choose that person again.
Get to know your agent. Spend time with them before you sign an exclusive contract. “ You’ve got to figure out if the chemistry is right,” Helfant explains. “You must really like the agent and trust them. That comes first.” Likewise, a good one will want to spend time with you before asking for a commitment. “Anyone who pressures you or makes you feel uncomfortable – don’t work with them.”
After all this, you may wind up loving your real estate company but not working well with your agent. In that case, says Helfant, talk to the firm’s manager and ask her to assign a new agent to you.
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Category: Housing
