Are you in the market for a new home? If so, it’s crucial to find the right real estate agent to help you through the process. There are many agents, so how do you know which one is right for you?
Hiring the right real estate agent can be the difference between finding the house of your dreams or being forced to settle. It can be the difference between selling your house for the amount you want compared to taking whatever offer is on the table. So, here are five tips for finding the right real estate agent.
Use An Agency
One of the first tips to consider when finding the right real estate agent would be using an agency. In all honesty, using an agency is probably your best bet since real estate agents such as the estate agents in Balham who work for an agency are bound by specific laws. To belong to an agency, a real estate agent needs to join the National Association of Realtors.
This almost always assures that the realtors or real estate agents will have quite a few credentials and certifications behind their names. It also means that they have quite a bit of experience. More than this, real estate agents who work for an agency have to think about the agency’s name and image in the way they conduct themselves, so you can expect professionalism and quality.
Experience
The next tip to keep in mind when finding the right real estate agent would be the amount of experience the agent has. The easiest way to determine this would be by what they are charging. Of course, this is not always the case, and some freelance real estate agents will try to take advantage of first-time homebuyers.
However, with that said, buying a house is quite an expensive investment and not using one of the best real estate agents could leave you either living in a house you don’t necessarily like or selling your house for less than it is worth. As such, you should ask the real estate agent to give you a few references so that you can ensure their experience is what they say it is.
Personality
One of the most important things to consider when choosing a real estate agent would be the agent’s personality. The primary reason for this is that you will most likely be working with the real estate agent for an extended period, so you need to make sure that you actually like the person.
More than this, humans have developed quite a good instinct, so when you meet a real estate agent that you get along with, it’s more likely that that agent will understand your needs as a client. This will ensure that they are working with your best interests in mind. This also means that they will go the extra mile for you, which is incredibly helpful.
Do Some Research
Now that you have a good idea of a few things that you can do to find a good agent, it’s time to learn what to do once you have found an agent. While it is always a good idea to ask the agent for references so that they can prove their level of experience, that doesn’t mean it’s the only thing that you can do.
Another thing that you should get into the habit of doing, especially if you will be buying another house in the future, would be to research the agent. If the agent says that they are experienced, there will likely be quite a few reviews or at least some information about the agent online.
Don’t Just Trust the Agent
Finally, the last bit of advice for finding a great real estate agent would be not to trust everything the agent says. Unfortunately, some real estate agents in the industry are just looking for a quick sale. As such, some agents will undervalue a house just so that it can be sold faster. After the real estate agent has given you a value for your house or the house you want to buy, you can research the prices of houses in the area to confirm what they are saying.