Need Assistance? – Top 10 Tips for Choosing the Right Realtor

Posted by John Butzko on October 1, 2009

Take your time and find the right Realtor for you and your family. Image courtesy of sandywright.

When you decide to buy or sell a home, you are about to embark on one of the most important financial situations most people face, yet so many give too little thought to finding the right real estate agent to assist their unique needs. When working with the ideal agent, you can save yourself time and aggravation in your real estate experience in selling your home for top dollar or finding the home that suits your price range and taste.

Here are 10 helpful tips to help you choose the right Realtor for you:

1. Interview More Than One—Narrow down your search and schedule individual meetings to evaluate your agent face to face. You are basically hiring this professional to represent your most important asset, so ask the questions that matter most to you and your family. For example: What type of support and supervision does your brokerage office provide to you?—or—How will you keep me informed about the progress of my transaction?

2. Approach is Everything—Choose a professional who will listen and understand your needs and advise you without being too pushy or aggressive. You need to be confident on all your choices. After all, in the end it is your home in question. Choose an agent who can voice a contrasting opinion, but will still make sure you are shown the houses you want to see.

3. Personality Points—Communication with your real estate professional is crucial to your overall real estate experience, so work with someone you are compatible with. Patience with you and your needs is a must. Ensure that you and your Realtor can communicate freely to express your concerns and requirements. Make sure they know every detail of your expectations and needs.

4. Marketing Savvy—In today’s market, your home needs to stand out. You want an agent who brings a detailed plan for exposing your home to the largest pool of potential homebuyers. Open houses, ads, web presence, etc. Find out where how they plan to sell your property.

5. Get the Technological Edge—Along with your solid traditional marketing plan, you need to reap the benefits of aggressive online exposure. With so many homebuyers searching online for properties, your home needs to be on the right websites to reach them and be noticed. Technology has made significant advancements in real estate in the last several years. Take advantage of those opportunities.

6. The Art of Pricing—You want an offer within the first 30 days your home is listed on the market. In today’s market, you risk too much by overpricing your property. Choose an experienced, knowledgeable Realtor who understands the importance of pricing your property to meet the demands of the market.

Choose a real estate agent with in-depth area knowledge in your community.

Choose a real estate agent who specializes in your community.

7. Area Expert—When selling your home, you are also selling the neighborhood to potential homebuyers. When you are searching for a new home, you want to know as much as possible about your new community before moving in. Find a real estate agent who specializes—or maybe even lives—in the community you’re selling or buying in. This in-depth local knowledge can help significantly with pricing, schools, marketing and more.

8. Do Your Research—A superior real estate professional comes with a good reputation. Research testimonials and referrals from former clients or transactions your Realtor was a part of. Many real estate agents participate in blogs or online social networking sites, so take a look into how they interact with current clients to get an idea on how the will interact with you. Also, look for a full-time, full-service agent with the experience necessary to get you the results you seek.

9. Find the Resources—Benefit from the assistance of an agent who can also help with finding an inspection service, real estate attorney or other real estate-oriented process. Take advantage of the marketing reach offered by your Realtor’s brokerage, and inquire about promotional materials, internet advertising and print ads.

10. Go With Your Gut—After interviewing a Realtor who is competent, experienced and presents a great marketing plan, you may still have a feeling of distrust or uncertainty. Trust your instincts. Hire someone you are comfortable with to assist you with your home buying or selling needs.

You deserve the best representation when you buy or sell your home. Take your time, do your research, and find the most qualified professional to help you get the best results in your real estate experience.