How To Homeown

Who you work with to buy or sell your home is SO IMPORTANT! According to data from the National Association of Realtors, there’s an estimated 3 million active real estate licensees. THREE MILLION! Like me, I’m sure you get bombarded by real estate agents advertising themselves and their services in your mailbox, at your local grocery store on every shopping cart, on billboards, social media, magazines and everywhere you look. Odds are, you probably also know many real estate agents in your specific area: how do you choose who to work with?

Here are my suggestions on what to look for in a GREAT agent:

A great real estate agent is full time! There are so many moving parts in the housing market and it is key to work with an agent who dedicates their full time career to helping buyers and sellers. With consistent, daily updates in market trends/demands and ever-changing contracts and technology, it is imperative that your agent is paying attention daily and deeply to what is going on where you have real estate needs so that they can accurately guide you step by step in the process! 

A full time agent has a specialized knowledge of inventory, numbers, contracts and best practices to achieve winning offers (buyers) and top dollar (sellers) for their customers! 

A great real estate agent is with you every step of the way! There are plenty of commission hungry sharks out there who will do anything they can to “win” your business and then the moment you get an accepted contract, they will leave you to fend for yourself so that they can move on to the next thing. A great agent is your advisor before, during and after every step of the transaction and is always available to answer your questions and share their knowledge/experience. A great agent has a strong grasp on what is going on at all times and will always go to bat for their clients! 

A great agent listens and is a great communicator! Your agent should be communicating effectively with YOU and every party of your home buying or selling process at all times. This includes lenders, vendors, title/escrow teams, appraisers, and especially the agent on the other side of the transaction. The most successful sales are completed by agents who communicate well with their clients and in turn, communicate well with each other with the sole purpose of making sure everyone has a clear understating of timelines, negotiations, procedures and duties. You’d be surprised how difficult it is for a vast majority of the population to reply to, let alone pick up, calls, texts, emails, etc. You should never be in the dark when it comes to your transaction! 

A great real estate agent has a great reputation with the community they serve and the Realtor community. Real estate agents want to work with other agents who are honest, experienced, responsive and know how to close a transaction. The industry is large, but the world is small and working with someone who has a great reputation amongst both their peers and the community they serve, goes an extremely long way. Agents want to work with other agents that they trust! 

A great real estate agent is a great negotiator! Knowing what is and isn’t appropriate to negotiate during a transaction is a fine art that not many agents have taken the time to learn. Negotiation in purchases and sales starts from the beginning and continues throughout the transactions: knowing how to create the biggest win for their client, while still keeping things fair and reasonable with the other party is the fine line your agent must be an expert in walking. The best agents have this art down and are always looking out for their clients’ best interests! 

A great real estate agent has a great team behind them! A great agent has established relationships with other great people in the industry: mortgage advisors, contractors, inspectors, stagers, housekeepers, engineers, architects, title/escrow officers, movers, landscapers, interior designers, specialized trades like arborists and carpenters, attorneys, developers, investors, appraisers, handy(wo)men, plumbers, roofers, organizers/packers, suppliers, painters, CPAs, financial planners, decorators, electricians, locksmith, insurance agents, property managers, and this list goes on and on! A great agent is your connection to ALL things pertaining to your homeownership! 

Wondering how you can find a great real estate agent in your area? Did you know we can connect you with the best real estate agent in your area, no matter where you live? We have dedicated our career to building a network of resources all over the country and it would be an honor to introduce you to your Realtor! To get started, meet us HERE!

Don’t get in to the wrong hands… reach out today and let’s make sure you’re working with the best of the best wherever you may be! 

Happy Realtor Shopping!