The best real estate agent is an experienced professional who listens to your concerns and knows their market. That person might not necessarily work at the largest brokerage, close the most transactions, or make the most money.
Efinity Mortgage can help you in selecting the right agent for you. Below we've put together some additional points to consider when searching for the right agent.
Real estate professionals have a saying that 20% of the agents do 80% of the business. Your goal is to find one among that 20% to work for you, but it's not as challenging as you might think.
The Difference Between Realtors® and Real Estate Agents
All Realtors are licensed to sell real estate as agents, but not all real estate agents are Realtors. Realtors belong to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), and they pledge to follow the NAR Code of Ethics. This is a comprehensive list that includes 17 articles and underlying standards of practice.1 The code establishes levels of conduct that are higher than ordinary business practices or those required by law. Only Realtors can display the Realtor logo.
Search Online for Agent Listings
Plenty of websites can refer agents to you, but that's no assurance of quality. The agents they refer are often those who have paid the site owners a fee to be listed in their directories.
A better bet is to research the top real estate companies in your area. Go to those websites and look up profiles of individual agents at offices near you. Look for details of their experience, but don't necessarily rule out newbies. They might have more time to spend with you. Just be sure to look for client reviews or comments.
Attend Open Houses
You can meet real estate agents in a non-threatening working environment and interact with them by going to open houses. Collect business cards and make notes about the agents you meet.
Pay attention to how the agent is showing the home if you're thinking about selling. You're looking for someone polite, informative, and who appears knowledgeable. You want someone who hands out professional-looking promotional material about the home. The agent is ideally pointing out features and giving tours, not sitting in a corner, reading a book, and ignoring you.
Track Neighborhood Signs
Pay attention to the for-sale listing signs in and around your neighborhood. Make a note of the day they go up and when they disappear or a "sold" banner is slapped on it instead. The agent who sells listings the fastest might be better for you than the agent with the largest number of "for sale" signs. Results speak volumes.
Check Out Print Advertisements
Real estate agents run advertisements for two reasons: they want to sell specific real estate and they want to promote themselves. Look in your local community newspaper for house ads in your targeted neighborhood, then check the websites of the agents who are advertising. These agents could be specialists in your neighborhood.
Put Together a List
Ideally, you'll have a list of at least three possible agents after you take these steps. It's OK to ask them for references and then check those references. Ask the references about their experience with the real estate agent and whether they would work with the agent again.
You'll want to interview the agents as well to determine which of them you feel most comfortable working with. Ask the agent about their approach to buying or selling a home, how they communicate with clients, and anything else you're concerned about. Work with an agent you have a good rapport with and who has excellent answers to your questions. This may not be the most experienced or top-selling agent, and that's fine. There's nothing wrong with trusting your instincts.