If you’re looking to buy a house or condominium, you’re probably also on the hunt for good real estate agent. Getting the right one is almost as important as getting the perfect home as they’ll help you navigate the wild waters that is the current real estate market. This is especially important for new homebuyers who may be unfamiliar with the market, local trends, and processes of purchasing.
Now before we begin, a major question on many homebuyers minds is — why should I get a real estate agent in the first place? Here are a few benefits to working with one:
- They have easier access to listings through other agents and connections that might be hard to find on your own
- They can help with negotiations when you’re buying a home and ensure you’re getting a fair deal
- They provide guidance and support on the processing of buying a home, selling and the local real estate market
- They assist with the tedious amounts of paperwork involved with buying and selling
As you begin your hunt for a good realtor, you’ll start to notice that there are a lot of options out there. So how do you pick one out? Here are some things to look for when choosing an agent that’s right for you:
Make Sure They Understand Your Local Real Estate Market
There’s nothing more crucial than this. A real estate agent should be an expert on the area and city you’re looking to buy, period. Not only should they be able to answer all your questions about the local market, but they should also be able to give you options outside of the neighbourhood you’re looking for.
Are there specific areas in your city that you have a particular interest in? Besides being able to give you rough estimates of the market prices in that ‘hood, they should be able to provide you the details of the area’s local demographic (i.e. families vs. young professionals), local amenities and key characteristics of that neighborhood.
If you really want to verify your potential agent’s knowledge, take down their answers to questions you have and then so some research on your own to see how their answers compared. If their answers are way off base to information that’s online, it may be better to move onto someone else.
Look At Their Experience
While you’re out and about getting to know multiple realtors “speed dating style”, don’t be afraid to ask about their experience and the deals they’ve been able to close. If you’ve been referred to them by a family member or friend, you have that additional assurance. But if you don’t have a referral to anyone, don’t be afraid to ask them a lot of questions about their past experience.
They’re Responsive and Assuring
There’s nothing like feeling like you have someone on your team and having them be there for you when you need it most. A good real estate agent is that kind of person! Homebuyers, especially new ones, have a lot of questions and concerns about the market and the processes of purchasing a home. When the times get tough, a good agent is not only responsive to the questions and concerns you have, but are also assuring. The whole point of having them is that they take on a bulk of the stress and ease you through the process. If you don’t feel like you’re being guided, onto the next!
Make Sure There’s Chemistry!
You and your new real estate agent are going to be spending a lot of time together, so you’re going to want to make sure you guys get along! Pick one that you mesh well with, that has similar working styles as you, is responsive and even has similar interests as you. A great way to tell is by meeting up and interviewing a few potential realtors so you have the opportunity to gauge how they are as a professional but as a person as well.
They Have Your Best Interests At Heart
At the end of the day, you want to make sure your agent is on YOUR team. They have your best interest at heart and will do everything they can possibly do to not only check off everything on your dream home checklist but actually help you find it.
While the destination to finally getting that home is what everyone likes to focus on, the journey is just as important. Buying a home can be stressful but a good real estate agent will take the brunt of the stress off your shoulders and ease any concerns you may have along the way in hopes of making the homebuying process as positive as possible.
