So,
you’ve done your best to spruce up your house. You’ve splashed on fresh paint,
made sure there is no leaky roof and added those potted plants. You feel
satisfied with its curb appeal now. You have also made your research and know
more or less the ins and outs of having a mortgage. You feel you are ready. Ready
to either sell your house or buy that forever home. But wait! You are missing
one key ingredient. You need the help of a competent real estate agent to help you make things happen.
Having
a competent realtor to help you navigate your real estate options is like
having an extra pair of eyes, ears, hand and feet. Real estate agents can help
you see a house’s potential from a different perspective and give you options
you may have missed. They help you with inspections and paperwork which, otherwise,
would be too tedious on your part. And that is if you even have the time to do
these things.
Here are 5 tips on how to spot a
competent real estate agent
Ask around.
Reach out to family and friends who have had the chance to work with a realtor.
They are your best source of information whether a realtor is any good. Ask for
specific instances why the real estate agent has performed above and beyond the
sale and why they recommend that particular agent. This will provide you a
detailed information which will help you determine if a real estate agent can
help you or not.
Read Reviews.
You know what they say about the
internet, you can’t hide anything from it, good or bad. Most real estate agents
post reviews that they have received on their website and social media. Be very
discerning though because you will not read any negative feedback. In order to
get a good idea about a realtor’s true capabilities, scour the internet and
look for user reviews. These type of reviews will give you a clear picture.
Pay attention to a real estate agent who knows
the neighborhood. When you buy a
house, you are not only buying the physical house but buying into the
neighborhood as well. What you want is to buy a house that’s in a neighborhood
where your family is safe and secure. You want a neighborhood where the basic
necessities like schools, hospitals and stores are readily accessible. More
importantly, you want a neighborhood that has a healthy family environment.
These reasons make having a realtor who knows the neighborhood even more important.
As mentioned earlier, a good realtor can give you insights that you may have
missed out.
Widen your search and talk to multiple agents. There are a lot of good real estate agents
out there. Each can help you achieve your real estate goals. Finding the right
realtor for you means you have to invest some time by talking to multiple
agents to determine if you and the agent have a “fit”. Working with a realtor is
a “relational” experience and you need to have a good working relationship with
your realtor, be comfortable with her and trust that she will give you the best
options.
A good agent is a realistic agent. A good realtor will base her recommendations
for price by analyzing different data like market reports. A competent realtor
will give you information about similarly sold/bought houses in the
neighborhood, how long it took before they were sold. A competent real estate
agent will give you recommendations based on very calculated data.
Buying
or selling a house is a life-changing event. The success, (or failure) of your
real estate investment greatly depends on how competent your realtor is. Keep
these recommendations in mind and you will at least be sure that you will have
the services of a competent agent.
About
the Author
Izabella
Lipetski is a premiere California licensed real estate agent with over 20 years
of experience. She has served over 200 clients with discretion, integrity,
diligence and passion. You may reach her at the ff:
Email: ilipetski@gmail.com/
Phone: (510) 506
2072
