Before putting your beloved home on the market, or buying a new one, you should look to find the right realtor for you. Whether you find a realtor in your community or find one in the area you are moving to, there are plenty of tools available on how to find the right real estate agent. All you need to do is know where to look and what to look for.
Real estate is a booming business, so don’t let all the fluff of a realtor’s portfolio trick you.
Here is what you need to know…
Table of contents
The Difference in Titles
Before you can find the best person for the job at hand, you should understand what all the different titles mean.
A real estate agent is someone in the business of buying or selling buildings, so make sure to ask what side of the transaction they are representing.
A realtor is a licensed agent who is a member of the National Association of Realtors. Their typical duties may include marketing properties, negotiating prices and terms, scheduling showings, and of course guiding their clients through the process.
A real estate broker is a real estate agent who meets advanced licensing requirements to oversee other agents. This means they broker deals between buyers and sellers and do more behind-the-scenes work when it comes to finding you the best deal.
The main difference between these professionals is the level of education and or licensing they hold. If you are unsure if someone is right for your needs don’t be afraid to ask them or do additional research.
If you would like some more clarification, check out this video about the differences between realtors and agents.
Where to Find a Realtor
Even if this is not your first time selling or buying a house, there are many ways in which you can find the right realtor for you:
- Here are some websites to help you do your initial search-
- Get recommendations from family and friends who have recently been on the market to either buy or sell.
- Attend open houses to get a sense of what a potential agent is truly like.
- Call local neighborhood brokers.
What to Look For in a Realtor
To find the right realtor, compare multiple realtors before you make your final decision. Some things to compare are their experiences, approaches, and how comfortable you feel working with them.
Available
Find someone who is in it for the long haul, by looking for a full-time agent. It is a benefit to you knowing that your agent or realtor doesn’t have other responsibilities outside their job and home life.
Resourceful
Having a good connection to lawyers, lenders, home stagers, and maybe an outsource moving company such as UniMovers, will help you during the moving process.
Local
Somebody who is familiar with the area you are looking to either buy or sell will be more informative than an outsider.
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Reputable
Find someone who is in good standing within the real estate community and who is popular among clients. Ask your friends or family what they enjoyed most about their experience or maybe what they didn’t.
Proactive
The real estate market and business is a very competitive place. You want to hire someone who is ahead of the game and is proactive instead of reactive to situations.
Tech-Savvy
With the world we live in today, you want someone who has a good grasp of technology. Make sure your realtor is someone who knows things such as your preferred method of communication and how to properly market your house online.
Questions to Ask
Once you have narrowed down your search, meet with the realtor to determine if they are the best fit. Buyers and sellers have different needs, find someone who meets your interests. Here are some questions you may ask before making your decision.
- What services does an agent offer?
- What experience and training does an agent have?
- What form of representation does that professional provide?
- This will vary depending on the state, level of education, and what side of the transaction they represent.
- How is that agent choosing to market your home?
- What challenges will I face as a buyer in today’s market, and how will we navigate through them?
- What is an agent’s fee?
- This can be a flat fee or they take a cut of the commission from the transaction.
- What disclosure should you (the consumer) receive?
- How often can you and the agent meet?
- What is an agent’s preferred method of communication? Will they be flexible on this?
Final Thoughts
Let’s quickly recap on who you should be hiring…
Real estate agent – a person in the business of buying or selling buildings.
Realtors – a licensed agent who is a member of the National Association of Realtors.
Real estate broker – a real estate agent who meets advanced licensing requirements to oversee other agents.
After finally getting through the interview process, you were hopefully successful in finding the right real estate agent or realtor for you. Then again the right professional for you depends on you. The question of how to find the right real estate agent can simply be answered by finding someone you trust and someone who listens to and acknowledges your wants and needs. Look for someone who wants to find the perfect home just as much as you do, but actually knows how to do so.
Hi! I am Mackenzie Jones! I am currently a junior in college majoring in biology, psychology, and neuroscience. In my free time I enjoy writing, trying new local restaurants/cafes, and spending as much time outside as possible.
