Choosing a real estate agent

It goes without saying that everyone could use a helping hand while organizing a daunting household relocation. Among all the chaos of de-cluttering, getting moving supplies, packing, cleaning, researching moving and storage companies, you need to ensure a new home is ready. As we all know, there are various types of real estate experiences and the outcome largely depends on your real estate agent’s skills and professionalism. Before you put up ‘’for sale’’ sign, make sure to get in touch with the right person who will guide you through the daunting process.

It’s no secret that navigating through the real estate market can be really challenging regardless of whether you’re the first-time buyer or you’re more of an experienced one. Enlisting professional assistance while trying to sell or buy a property is the key to a smooth transition. For that purpose, we would like to highlight most important qualities of a reputable real estate agent you shouldn’t compromise on. Since buying a new home is a huge investment, linking up with the right real estate agent is crucial.

Traits to look for in a real estate agent

Given the competitive nature of the real estate field, no wonder why there are different kinds of people offering professional services. Still, there are certain skills and qualities that make some of them stand out in a crowd of competitors.

• Relevant knowledge and experience
• Passionate about his job
• Dedicated to reaching excellent result
• Friendly and pleasant personality
• Notable communication skills
• Remarkable negotiation skills

Imagine a scenario where you are moving long-distance to the city you’ve never visited before. Although you’ve done

your research about your new city, only a local real estate agent may guide you through the local market and help you choose a new home without major troubles.  Therefore, choosing an agent with a strong business background is a must if you want a smooth apartment-hunting experience.

While real estate agent’s professionalism and expertise are very appreciated characteristics, you should pay attention to his/her personal traits. The truth is that during this challenging period you will want to have around a pleasant, friendly person with an outgoing personality. When researching real estate agents, chances are you will be hoping for that energetic person you will feel comfortable working with.

As with any other service provider, finding the most suitable one takes time and a lot of patient research. A recommendation from a reliable person can go a long way, but by interviewing personally each of them you can get a clearer picture about their personality and professional attitude. Sometimes pushy, but always polite attitude is a trait you may benefit from when negotiating offers. After all, you want someone who can ensure a good deal on your dream house.

What to watch out for when picking a real estate agent?

How can you tell if your real estate agent is a bad fit? With so many agents over there trying to get your business, it’s not easy to determine who to trust. It’s no secret that a quality real estate agent can help you find your dream house or sell your old one effortlessly. But, on the other hand, a bad choice can jeopardize the entire process. Therefore, do not hesitate to ask questions, read online reviews and get as many recommendations as you can to ensure a smooth collaboration. Also, it may be a good idea to consider these red flags in order to avoid unpleasant surprises and delays down the road.

-Due to other jobs or their part-time engagements your real estate agent doesn’t have enough time to focus on your requirements. Regardless of whether you are buying or selling, you want an active collaboration with a professional who will be following the market constantly. Furthermore, you certainly want to do business with a reliable agent who is available to show you new listings as soon as they appear.

-Your chosen agent doesn’t specialize in your neighborhood market and he is not familiar with local tendencies. Each area has certain specifics and a good agent should know all of them. The same goes for the type of property you are looking to buy or sell. If the real estate agent doesn’t deal with the type of property you are interested in, maybe it’s time for you to reconsider and politely move on.

-Unenviable negotiating tactic seems to be a major deal-breaker when it comes to hiring a real estate agent. Unless your agent is a top negotiator, chances are you may not get the property you want.

What’s the main difference between real estate agents, realtors and brokers?

While most people tend to use those three terms interchangeably, it’s important to learn that they are not synonyms. As a matter of fact, each of those positions involves different responsibilities and duties.

A realtor is a real estate specialist who is a member of the National association of realtors. As a results, they are responsible to comply with its standards and legal requirements. Only after completing a code of ethics training they are allowed to present themselves as realtors.

On the other hand, a broker has attended additional education training and courses in order to obtain a broker’s license. He can work either independently or hire real estate specialists. While many of them may decide to run their own firm, there are those who choose to be part of a larger, more important real estate company until they build up their expertise.

A real estate agent is licensed to sell real estate and they cannot work independently. To be more specific, they have the same duties and responsibilities as brokers, but they cannot run their own brokerage company.

Aside from reading about those specifics online, it’s always advisable to schedule a meeting where you can find out all those details you consider relevant for your future collaboration. As it turns out, whether you are looking for a perfect real estate agent or a cheap mover, asking right questions is essential.