Buying or selling a home is a major life event. A Realtor® can prove invaluable when it comes to helping you navigate this milestone. How will you know when you have found the right real estate agent? Here are some things to look for.
Good Knowledge of the Area
A Realtor® with deep roots in the area will be well qualified to tell you about current home trends. As such, he or she can advise you as to how your home stands up in comparison to others. Your agent may even be able to suggest minor upgrades or improvements that would increase your home’s value based upon this knowledge.
When buying a home, an agent’s knowledge of the local area can also prove useful. Realtors® cannot legally steer you toward a particular neighborhood; however, they can discuss the pros and cons of different areas to help you make your own decision.
You should ideally seek out a Realtor® who has lived in your area for a number of years and also has extensive experience in the real estate market. Someone with this type of local knowledge will be better prepared to predict trends or provide you with a history of your property.
Type of Marketing
Realtors® today have more marketing tools available than ever before. However, a good number of them do not use these tools to their full advantages. Instead, many will just put a property on a Multiple Listing Service and then forget about it. To give yourself the best odds of selling quicker, look for an agent who also uses digital marketing, email drips, postcards, open houses, and other methods to help get the word out.
The type of marketing an agent uses is important for buyers as well. Generally speaking, the more marketing tools a Realtor® has, the more home-buying options that person can make available to you. Consequently, you may be able to view a bigger selection of properties because your agent has cast a wider net.
Who is in Their Network?
In the course of buying or selling real estate, you could need help from outside contractors. For example, a seller could need someone to make minor repairs prior to placing a home on the market. A seller on the other hand might want an inspector to determine the condition of a piece of property before making an offer.
Having a Realtor® with a wide network of vetted professionals can come in handy. Buyers and sellers alike can benefit from an agent’s knowledge and expertise and will therefore not have to spend as much time searching for someone.
Problem Solving Abilities
When dealing with real estate, unforeseen circumstances often arise. If you are faced with an unexpected issue, you will need to know that your Realtor® is capable of coming up with solutions to your problem. At your first meeting, ask the agent about some difficult experiences he or she has dealt with in the past and what was done to resolve them.
Problem-solving abilities can benefit you even in little ways. One way is by helping you downplay certain negative characteristics that might cause others to view your home in a negative light. When buying a property, a real estate agent might come up with ideas to help you overcome certain attributes you don’t like. In turn, this might cause you to consider a property you might otherwise have written off.
Attention to Detail
When real property transactions are not conducted flawlessly, the result could potentially be devastating. In some cases, they can wind up costing you thousands of dollars, or could result in litigation that drags on for years. Many times, issues arise because the Realtor® was not attentive. Accordingly, you should look for someone who is meticulous in going over contracts, offers, and other important legal paperwork.
Someone with great attention to detail will also be knowledgeable about current market conditions. This can prove especially helpful whenever it is time to negotiate a contract.
Communication Skills
Buying or selling property is often a tedious, multi-faceted process. This means you will not want to be left hanging during any phase. There is nothing worse than wondering if a buyer is interested or if a seller has decided to accept your offer. Fortunately, good communication is something that is fairly easy to determine up front.
If an agent doesn’t return your initial phone calls, that person may also fail to keep you apprised of major events that take place. Stay away from anyone who doesn’t return calls or emails or tries to rush the conversation whenever they do.
Great Negotiation Skills
As a homeowner, the selling price you receive will largely depend on your agent’s ability to negotiate. You’ll want a Realtor® who will get you a great price and favorable terms without scaring off a potential buyer in the process.
Negotiation skills are equally as important when buying a home. After all, this is a major purchase that you will want to save money on if at all possible. If the price isn’t negotiable, you’ll want a Realtor® who will at least try to negotiate other terms such as property taxes or minor repairs.
Self-Motivation
To be successful, Realtors® must possess a great deal of self-motivation. Accordingly, you should notice whether or not an agent appears eager to assist you with your buying or selling endeavors. Does the Realtor® seem enthused about working with you, or does it seem as though you are being given the runaround? A great candidate will be eager to get started without being too pushy.
Honesty and Integrity
All of the above qualities are irrelevant if the agent does not also possess honesty and integrity. Look for a licensed Realtor® who is also a member of the National Association of Realtors® as well as any other local real estate boards. Members of these organizations must adhere to a strict code of ethics and have also pledged to uphold fair housing laws.
These are all very important traits for a real estate agent to possess. If you plan on buying or selling real property, keep the above characteristics in mind when trying to decide on the right agent. If you happen to be looking in the Scottsdale, AZ area for a home to buy or sell, we couldn’t recommend the Scottsdale realtor team The Kay-Grant Group enough.
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