How to Choose the Right Real Estate Agent

With the majority of people choosing to use a real estate agent instead of listing their house themselves these days, choosing the right real estate agent can start to feel just as taxing as selling your house itself. If you feel like you’re ready to list your house and move on to greener pastures but aren’t sure where to start, here is a quick list of things to look out for when choosing a real estate agent.

Make Sure They are Familiar with the Area

This one might feel a little obvious, but certain agents are more experienced in the housing market of certain neighborhoods than others. Real estate agents who specialize in certain neighborhoods. Real estate agents in Colorado and a real estate agent in New York City are going to go about selling a house in entirely different ways. An experienced, local agent will have a much better understanding of the nuances of the neighborhood, the housing and zoning laws of the particular area, and which media and advertising outlets are best suited to sell your home.

Choose a Person, Not Experience

While yes, having years of experience in the real estate industry is certainly not a bad thing, it is so important to choose an agent that you feel comfortable and can mesh well with. You will be spending a lot of time with your agent, and they will be the liaison between you and your prospective new home or your prospective home buyers. Make sure your agent is professional and personable. Maybe sit in on an open house they are hosting, or visit with a few agents in your area to see which would be the best fit for you and your family’s house hunting or selling experience.

Make Sure Your Agent is Working for You, Not Themselves

If you have outlined exactly what you are looking for and still find that your agent is showing you properties that do not meet your criteria or are way overshooting your budget, it might be time to consider whether they have your best interest at heart or if they are working solely for themselves. If you do feel this might be the case, it’s not a bad idea to move on to someone new who can actually deliver on your goals. Finding a real estate agent you can trust, like Fuller Real Estate, is critical to ensuring you find the right home or home buyers.

 Get a Recommendation

All in all, the best way to weed out any bad eggs from the start is to ask around from previous home buyers and sellers. See who they recommend and what particular things about their experience warrants a good review. People want someone they can trust and finding an agent who others trust is a great way to start. That being said, just because you know a friend of a friend’s second cousin who is a real estate agent, does not mean you need to feel obligated to work with them. Simply knowing an agent does not necessarily mean you should hire them, make sure to do your own research and find someone who is a good fit.