Knowing how to pick the proper real estate agent is an important step in your journey whether to sell your home or purchase your dream house. This individual can make all the difference for your journey and careful consideration should be used when picking who to best work with. By understanding several ways to pick a winning agent, you will be better prepared to realize your goals whether it’s to buy or sell. With hundreds of agents to choose from in your RealSuccess community, it is easy to find one and we make it our mission to help you find the right one. 

A real estate agent is an industry professional who serves as the facilitator of real estate transactions. The agent is ultimately responsible for bringing buyers and sellers together and are paid a commission—a percentage of the sale price.  The ideal agent is not always the one with the most sales under his or her belt or the most years on the job. RealSuccess ideal agent is one who listens to you, is easy to get along with, and has the tools and skills to address your unique situation.

Every home buyer is different. Some have credit issues, some are buying from out of state, and some need help selling their current home in addition to buying a new one. Just as buyers have different needs, real estate agents have different skills and specialties.

Seek Referrals and References: Ask friends and family for agent referrals

It is advisable to seek references from clients who have used our agent in the past. At RealSuccess we have gone through extensive referrals and references. And although we have completed the due diligence you can always check the web and see what reviews are listed under our agents. You should visit their social media pages and see what kind of comments clients are leaving on their posts.

Nobody knows you as well as your friends and family do. So they’re often in the best position to recommend an agent who is well-suited for your needs. You can also trust a referral from friends or family more than one that comes from a stranger.

Talk to multiple agents

I once saw a statistic that 67% of home buyers and brand new investors choose the first real estate agent they contact. This means one of two things. Either most people are choosing wisely the first time, or they’re just rushing into things without shopping around. Probably a little of both.

As an investor, you don’t have to exhaust yourself interviewing agent after agent, but at least talk with two or three to see who you’re most comfortable with (which leads to the next point).

Consider the vibe factor

Professional expertise is an important criterion when choosing a real estate agent, but interpersonal skills are equally important. After all, you’ll be working with this person anywhere from 2 to 12 months, so it helps to get along with them. We all have unique personalities, and that’s the way it should be, but when working with someone professionally, it helps if their personality “meshes” well with your own.

Ask how they hunt

When deciding on a real estate agent, ask how they search for homes. Some agents have their own preferred listings that they favor. You want what’s best for you, not what’s best for your agent. You’re paying them, right? So make sure the agent is willing to search high and low to find the best home that fits your needs. That includes using the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) as well as their own personal network.

Read paperwork carefully

This advice is heavily used for a reason. It’s critical that you examine all documents during the home buying process, and that includes your agent agreement. At some point during the relationship, your agent will probably ask you to sign an agent agreement. Basically, it just means that if the agent shows you a particular property, your purchase of the property should be credited to that agent. In most cases it’s simple, just be sure to read it carefully and ask questions.

A  strong agent is the most important member of the investor’s team and the reason is simple, the profit gets created in the purchase.  Having a great agent by your side is extremely important in the steering and direction of any investor’s career.

Make Sure They’re Accessible

This is often tough to detect early on when searching out agents but see how fast they respond to you. Do they go dark on you for several hours without an excuse? When you’re looking to purchase or sell a home, you have thousands of dollars on the line. You most likely would prefer someone who is easily reached during normal business hours and can quickly respond to all your concerns. Every agent should be easily contacted and remain reachable when you need them the most. 

Track Record

Often past performance is an indication of future results. When choosing your agent make sure to go over important aspects. How many homes have they closed in the past year? A low number may indicate they may have challenges or are only doing this part-time. Sales volume and the number of closings done per year will give you a benchmark on how effective the agent will be towards helping you close your deal. 

Wrap Up

Overall, it is best to do your homework anytime you are looking to hire a new professional that will represent you. Real estate is no different. At RealSuccess we do the hard work for you. Simply call to find out more so we can get you in contact with the right real estate agent.