Picking the right real estate agent can make all the difference in whether your home-buying or selling experience is a smooth, pleasant one. The most important thing to remember when choosing an agent is that you will be working with that person for a long time. Agents are paid upon closing and typically get paid a percentage of the sale price or a flat fee. This means that if you pick an agent who is inexperienced or not very good at what he/she does, you may end up paying more than if you had picked someone better at her job.
Here are the qualities to look for in the best real estate agent;
Years of experience
Experience is important. It’s not the only thing that matters, but it can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, experience means your agent knows the market and has a sense of what to expect when negotiating with sellers and other agents. They’re more likely to have relationships with community members and know how things work in your neighborhood. They also have more contacts in the industry who can help you through any roadblocks that may come up during negotiations or inspections.
Understands the local real estate market
You want a real estate agent who knows the local market. The best way to do this is by looking at homes they have sold or are currently selling in your target area and meeting with them to see if they understand what you’re looking for. If you can’t find any listings on their website that meet your criteria, chances are good that they don’t know how to help you.
Next, take a look at the neighborhoods where homes are being sold. Consider if there are schools and other social amenities like parks and shopping centers. Don’t forget about the crime rate either. Do these factors affect your decision when choosing a house or neighborhood? Ensure your agent knows what those factors mean for buyers in this area of town.
Tech-savvy
The real estate market is changing, and technology is a big part of that. If you’re looking for an agent to help you navigate this new landscape, look for someone familiar with the latest products and trends.
Agents should use technology to their advantage by using it to serve their clients better. In addition to helping their clients find homes or sell their properties, agents can use technology to build better relationships with them so that they feel comfortable in the process.
Have a solid plan
If you’re going to be buying a home, it’s probably time to start figuring out what kind of house you want and how much you can afford to spend on it. You may also want to find real estate agents in North Carolina who can help with this process.
If you have a solid plan for buying your first home, we recommend choosing an agent with experience working with first-time buyers.
Great communication skills
When choosing a real estate agent, you want to find someone who can get the job done. But more than that, if you work with an individual for the next few months or years of your life, you want someone who will be easy to communicate with and understand. When interviewing potential agents, ask how they prefer their clients and other professionals involved in the transaction to communicate. Do they prefer phone calls or emails? Do they need all the documentation in one place? Can they work with multiple people at once?
The same goes for communication between your agent and other parties like sellers, buyers, and banks. Make sure everyone knows what’s expected from each person as far as communication goes. This should include when contact happens, especially when multiple parties are involved, which media are preferred; and most importantly, how often.
Attentive to details
The real estate agent is the one who will be representing you and your best interests, so you must find one that is attentive to details. This means paying attention to all of the little things, such as the condition of their office space, maintaining a clean appearance, and adopting a professional demeanor when they meet with clients or conduct open houses.
Conclusion
If you’re considering hiring a real estate agent, it’s important to ensure they’re right for your needs. Most agents are qualified to assist with selling your home, but how do you know if they’re right for you? You need to do your research and ask questions that will help narrow down the choices until you find one that meets all of your requirements.
