Top Tips When Finding Your Real Estate Agent Match

The best real estate agent for your property and your requirements is not always the one with the flashiest ad in the newspaper or the nicest TV commercial. The best real estate agent should match well with you, and to find the best match is a lot of hard work on your part too. 

Professionalism, a good reputation and an impressive track record should be your 3 non-negotiable when looking for a real estate agent to hire. 

But subjectively, you need to keep a list of qualities the real estate agent you will hire should have.

1. Dedicated. Will he be able to meet my actual requirements? A real estate agent may be a professional, but that does not mean he should undermine your needs and impose his own above it.
2. Selfless. Will he be able to serve your interest above his? It is true that real estate agents earn on commission, but that should not mean your interest is served under his. Your interest must be at the centre of his work at all times... even if it means he'll get a small chunk of your sale to make you a satisfied client.
3. High integrity and client service. Do his previous clients and references have positive feedback about his work?
4. Knowledgeable. Is he familiar with the area where you are buying or selling a property from? Does he know the general market value or the price bracket of properties in your area?
5. Word of honor. Is he altering the market situation in his favor? Is he realistic with the details and assessments of the real estate situation?

Fortunately, with the kind of technologies that we have, finding a real estate agent is a piece of cake. 

There are directory websites that feature all the real estate agents found in your locality. You can start from there and if you feel quite confident with a particular agent you find, do your research. If there’s any, access their website, read their blog and assess reviews or recommendations from their past clients. 

It is essential to shortlist at least 3 to 5 real estate candidates. Meet with them personally to validate what you have researched.

Prepare your questions before meeting them up. Below are examples of questions that you can ask them.

• How many years have you been working as a real estate agent?
• How has it been like? 
• Are you a full-time agent or working part-time?
• How long have you been working with properties in this side of town?
• How many sales were you able to close last year?
• How do you represent your clients? Do you represent buyers more or sellers?
• In a month, how many prospective buyers or sellers approach you?
• How many properties are currently listed under your name?
• What's your marketing strategy?

There are definitely more questions you can come up with. It shows what kind of service you most require and the hoops you will jump through to get it.

Appraisals and assessments should not cost you. In the event that the real estate you want to hire offers an appraisal and an assessment for free, remember that it should not be the case. You are no way obligated to one real estate agent at this point in your selection process.