Are you looking to buy or sell your home? Regardless of the option, it can be an expensive endeavor. Doing it on your own is not always recommended because of the challenges that you could encounter along the way. According to Mortgage Calculator, real estate agents make more than $75 billion in commissions every year. This could be seen as a big sum but that is only a drop in the ocean in the grand scheme of things. It is crucial that you’re doing due diligence before you hire a real estate agent. There are some traits you should be looking for and some of them include:
Local Knowledge
It is crucial that you’re getting an agent that is based in your locality. They will have a good understanding of the local community. They know about the security, schools, and social amenities that are available in a particular neighborhood.
If you’re selling, you’d want to get a cash buyer so that the deal is being finalized without a lot of problems. A good real estate agent will know potential people to reach out to if it is a good deal. This will only be possible if you’re working with a locally based real estate agent.
Good Communication Skills
A real estate agent should demonstrate their communication skills by listening. It doesn’t matter if they’re buying or selling, good listening habits will ensure that you’re getting exactly what the client wants. If you’re buying, you’ll want the agent to tell you everything there is to know about the home. No detail should be left out. For a seller, you need someone that is able to convince potential buyers to sign the sales contract.
Experience
The experience of the real estate agent is a crucial consideration in the selection process. You don’t want to be working with someone that is just starting out. You’ll need to look at the number of years that the realtor has been working. The more years, the more the experience you can expect. Such an individual will make sure that you’re getting the best deal possible.
Honesty
There are inherent risks in hiring a real estate agent. Not all of them will have your best interests at heart. The majority will only care about the commission structure. It can also be difficult to determine if you’re working with an honest individual. A good real estate agent will be honest about the downside of your home. This is usually a good sign that you’re dealing with a trustworthy person.
Proactive
The Top 10 Real Estate Agents are the ones that are proactive from the beginning. They will never be told what needs to be done to ensure that you’re getting a good deal. If you have to chase the agent for you to get updates, that alone will be a sign that you need to look for someone else. When you get someone that takes control from the start, you can be guaranteed a smooth work relationship. He or she will be eager to get the deal done in the shortest time possible while ensuring you’re getting the best rates.
Excellent Negotiation Skills
It is hard for a real estate agent to be successful without possessing negotiation skills. It doesn’t matter if you’re buying or selling, you’ll need a real estate agent that can get you a good deal. An experienced real estate agent will know the true value of a home. He or she will always have the client’s best interest in mind when doing the negotiations.
Detail Oriented
You need to pick a realtor with an eye for details as sometimes that is what that makes the difference. He or she will spot the issues with the house that could lower the asking price. The selling agent can also know when there is a problem with the property so that you’re getting value for money.
Right Technology
We live in the 21st century and you shouldn’t be working with a real estate agent who only lists the property in the local newspaper. A good agent is one that knows about the right websites to advertise so that you’re getting potential leads for the sale of your property.
They should also have an understanding of how digital marketing works. Make sure you’re doing research on the real estate agent before you decide to work with them. Don’t just trust the reviews you read on the internet as they can be faked.
