Finding the right Realtor to work with when you need one can seem overwhelming. Successfully closing a sale or a purchase of real estate is a big deal. Who to choose? That depends… the agent you choose should be someone you can relate to and communicate well with who can collaborate with you to prioritize your goals and help you examine possibilities you may not have otherwise come up with on your own. You should feel comfortable with them getting to know you and your financial resources.
It makes sense to get to know the person you’ll be working with before you start working together. Whether you meet them socially, at open house or through professional or referral sources, a great agent is a valuable resource for you that can help take the stress out of the process as you navigate your way through home ownership.
Where are they? Everywhere. Maybe you don’t always recognize them or worse, the ones that stand out aren’t necessarily anyone you’d like to spend an afternoon with, much less weeks or even months that it can take to successfully close a transaction.
Okay, so let’s consider that the most compatible agents for you may not be the most visible. That means you’re going to have to do a little homework. Since you’ll be getting started months and sometimes as much as a year in advance, you’ve got time to get to know someone and feel comfortable working with them.
Here’s where you’ll find them:
Referrals There are lots of great agents and some of them only work by referral so you may not have heard of them. Ask your friends, co-workers, neighbors, people you trust. Since referrals can be like asking someone to “fix you up”, be sure to form your own opinion.
Open House Visiting open houses will have you meeting active agents working right where you are or where you want to be. It’s also an opportunity to see them at work for someone else. Ask for references and listen to what their clients have to say about them.
There is also on-line searching or walking into neighborhood real estate offices, calling on ads, so many ways to find agents. Hold out for the agent that’s going to be a good fit for you – you don’t have to settle.
Narrow it Down: Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, call them up or schedule a brief meeting to go over your real estate goals. Be prepared to ask a few questions and generally get an idea of their approach and personality. Check their websites, social media and testimonials to help develop your impression of their ability to provide a customer experience that will not only meet your needs, but quite possibly exceed them. Find out how they separate themselves from their competition and try on what it’s like to sit across the table from them. Remember, you’re interviewing them, they’ll be working for you!
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