What Makes a Great Realtor?
Buying your first home can either be a pleasant experience or one that is wracked with stress and frustration. Quite often, the experience you’re left having is largely impacted by one person – your realtor. Choose the right realtor and they will help calm your concerns and get into the home of your dreams with the least amount of struggle. But choose the wrong one, and you can face a wide range of issues, including potentially losing the house you want so badly to buy.
So, in essence who you choose as your Realtor is just as important a choice, if not more so, as which home you choose to buy. Luckily, there are a few things to keep an eye out for that can help you make the right decision when choosing a Realtor to help you buy your first home.
#1: Use a Buyer’s Agent
Some real estate agents are considered listing agents, some are buyer’s agents, and some play the middle ground. When buying your first home, look for an agent who is a buyer’s agent. This type of Realtor is only concerned about getting the best deal for you, the buyer. They have no vested interest in the seller and helping them meet their goals.
#2: Choose an Agent With at Least 5 Years of Experience
When buying your first home, you want a Realtor with some degree of experience, preferably five years or more. An agent with at least five years of experience will usually have a stronger network of local real estate contacts. Plus, they will usually know more about local construction and have a more thorough understanding of the local market. They will also have had plenty of time to hone their negotiating skills.
#3: Read Online Reviews from Recent Clients
Online review sites make it easy to research just about anything, including the Realtors in the area you’re looking to buy. With your first home purchase, it is more important than ever to use these resources to help narrow down your choices because you will quickly see who gets stellar reviews and who doesn’t. Doing your due diligence here will help you save a lot of wasted time and heartbreak down the road.
#4: Check the Agent’s Recent Transaction History
A good buyer’s agent will be someone who has a consistent history of closing a lot of deals in their local market. On the other hand, if you notice an agent does not have a consistent sales history, then this could be a red flag indicating that they either do not know their market well enough, are lacking negotiating experience, or are losing clients due to poor performance or attitude issues.
Taking the time to check an agent’s recent transaction history will not only tell you how successful they are, but also help you learn what types of properties they specialize in. Choosing a Realtor that has experience in the specific type of property you’re looking to buy can be a major difference maker.
#5: Pay Attention to How the Agent Communicates
Buying your first home with the least amount of stress requires clear and concise communication between yourself, your Realtor, and a host of other professionals in the real estate business. When communicating with your realtor, pay attention to how quickly they respond to your inquiry and how they answer your questions.
If a realtor is slow to respond to your questions or they provide short, unclear answers, then you can probably be sure that they are communicating with everyone else involved in your transaction in the same way. In most real estate transactions, time is of the essence. Don’t risk losing out on the home of your dreams by choosing a Realtor who doesn’t make clear and open communication a priority.
There is nothing like buying your first home, but you only have so much control over the process. Luckily, one of the most important factors you do have control over, and that’s choosing the realtor you want to help guide you through the process. Follow the advice included here and you will increase your odds of working with someone who will help you reach your home ownership goals with less stress and worry.
