When you want to buy or sell property, one of the things that makes you think the most is to find the right real estate agent. If you think that all real estate agents are the same, you are wrong. How can you choose the right real estate agent? Here are some valuable suggestions for you.
How to Find a Great Real Estate Agent?
When you are planning to buy or sell real estate one of your biggest concerns may be to find the appropriate agent. Contrary to what you may think, not all agents are the same and some will be more effective than others. With many brokerages and agents to choose from, finding a perfect match may be more of a challenge than you expected. A good agent can help you navigate the process of buying or selling with minimal stress, whereas a mediocre agent might make the process harder for you and might create an undesirable impact on your finances. Unfortunately, there isn’t a magic formula for finding a great agent, though there are some actions you can take to improve your chances.
What should you be looking for in a good agent?
- Think about what’s most important to you
Everyone is different and has different needs, especially when it comes to the process of home buying. Your candidates should be able to display qualities most important to you.
What kind of communication style are you looking for? Do you prefer to text, talk on the phone, or email? Would you like someone instantly responding to your correspondence, or are you more flexible? Do you require intensive attention, or would you prefer for an agent to assess your lifestyle and preferences and then take action accordingly?
- Referrals
Referrals from your personal network are a powerful source to find a real estate agent. Having someone who had a positive experience referring a successful agent is invaluable when faced with a seemingly endless number of options.
However, you should keep in mind that your friends and family almost certainly have different priorities, may have different financial circumstances and may be favoring different neighborhoods and their perfect match might not be yours.
If somebody in your close network happens to be a real estate agent, remember to expect the same grade of professionalism from them as of any other agent and really evaluate if they would be a good fit for you.
- Research
If you already have a shortlist based on referrals it is time to dig deeper into investigating their profiles.
An agent’s digital presence (e.g., real estate websites, search engines and social networks) is the next best thing to a personal referral. Read reviews of real estate agents and take note of how they respond to negative reviews. You can find news and interviews of reputable agents and agencies at Kibris Emlak Merkezi.
An honest and ethical agent will truly have your best interests at heart. If an agent isn’t bringing you the right options after your honest briefing, it’s likely they aren’t looking for properties for you but rather to benefit themselves. Ask questions upfront and don’t be afraid to move on to someone else if it doesn’t feel right.
4.Think about conflicts of interest
An important quality to have in a real estate agent is that they are client-service driven, working to achieve best results for their client. However, there are some situations that could cause a major conflict of interest, which can be avoided.
The most obvious one is, if they’re working as a dual agent. If the agent is representing both sides, it seems unlikely either would get the attention or advocacy they deserve, leading to sacrificing the best price or property they could get if the agent was solely focused on just one client in the transaction.
Another conflict would be if an agent is trying to steer you in a different direction than you’re comfortable with or outside the parameters you’ve set; like pushing you to look at homes outside of your price range, or advising you away from a cooperation because they’re more difficult to close and the commission would be split.
- Check If They Mitigate Risk
Find a real estate agent who is honest about the risks of buying or selling a particular property. Don’t get hooked to flattering and fluffy agents. You need someone who is realistic and can proactively mitigate risk. When interviewing agents, pay attention to those using real data in their answers when it comes to investment analysis, neighborhood-level market performance, and long-term impact of your decision to buy or sell. KEM
6.Observe how they listen
Discussing all your criteria and what you’re looking for in your new home is the basis for landing your dream home. Therefore, it’s crucial that your agent listens and pays close attention. If you realize that the agent isn’t closely listening to your needs, that’s a pretty good sign to rule him/her out.
Good agents are good listeners and have patience on their side, so any agent that’s looking to push a property is a huge red flag. Educating and advising is a must for agents, but being pushy and demanding is not.
- Look at their marketing techniques
In today’s globally connected world, an agents marketing and social media plan should be at the top of the list. Be sure to ask what specific platforms and strategies they intend to use to ensure that the home’s listing reaches the greatest number of potential buyers. KEM
Some popular marketing strategies include mailings, social media channels, website listings and events. Focus on expertise; check if their marketing is about them or their properties.
8.Strong reputation
You should hear positive things about the agent’s ability to find the right buyer or seller as well as to close the deal quickly both in reviews and by word of mouth. Remember, great realtors get noticed.
- Connections
An experienced agent is spotted by being well-connected in their industry and the resources they have in their network. Contractors, banks, movers, furniture shops, internet providers, electricians, plumbers are all a part of their connections. Your real estate agent should be willing and have the ability to establish a liaison with experts you need to know as a property owner.
10.Good communication
You need to feel completely comfortable talking and communicating with the real estate agent. If it feels awkward or if there is undue pressure placed on you, this real estate agent is not the right fit. Be sure to hire an agent who you communicate well with, and who is willing and able to answer any questions that you might have about the process.
If you are selling you’ll want to know what their individual plans are and how they will be marketing your property. Ask about “hot” prospective buyers. Find out if they will personally accompany viewings. How often will they contact you about the progress? And how do they proceed once a sale is agreed? A good agent will be able to tell you about the “sales progression” which is really important to ensure the sale goes through.
- Personal rapport
You want to choose a real estate agent who you get on with. You will be spending a lot of time together, so it’s important to work with someone you get along with, and who you trust understanding your needs. Trust your intuition on this one—if you’re getting bad vibes, trust your gut and find somebody else.
12.Reliable experience
It’s important to ask a potential agent how long they’ve been buying and selling homes, but don’t forget to dig a little bit deeper into their experience. Get information about their average list-price-to-sale-price ratio, as well as the typical time it takes to find clients and close on their new home. You’ll want to choose a real estate agent who has a proven track record of getting buyers into homes fast with a great deal.
- Strong local market knowledge
Every market is different. Whether you’re buying in a city or the country, you’ll want a real estate agent who knows all about local market trends and patterns and guiding you through the nuances of your specific locality. Inquire about the basics, like average time on the market for newly listed homes and average sale prices, but also ask about any unique trends regarding your local market that you should know about.
If you’re buying or selling a luxury home, choose a realtor who specializes in that market. Some agents specialize in certain geographic locations, representing homes in all price ranges in that area, but it’s worth asking whether they have specific experience in your market.
- Tell the agent what you need
A good agent will want to have an understanding of your circumstances and needs. Help them to help you. Be honest about your circumstances. Everyone has particular requirements and a good agent will tailor their services to deal with them. Agents have access to the technology it takes to make your property seen or to find options for purchase, but it takes a human being to understand and work on achieving your specific goals.
Decision Time
During the choosing process you’ll certainly like some individuals better than others. When it’s time to make your choice, you can appoint one agency or several. In practice, it is often best to use a “sole agent” because when they know that they have a reasonable chance of selling the property, they will concentrate their efforts on it. The sole agency arrangement will last for an agreed period of time.
The easier part of an agent’s job is arguably finding the right buyer or seller and closing the deal can be a lot more challenging, as there are numerous steps and plenty of things that can go wrong. A good real estate agent is competent, anticipates possible hick ups, and follows an organized plan. From mortgage approval to home inspection, you should be able to rely on your agent.
Beril ÖZTUNALI
Kıbrıs Emlak Merkezi Country Manager
Tags: real estate agents, property sell, porperty buy, agent, consultantSubscribe to our mailing list to access the latest news
