How to Find the Right REALTOR to Sell Your Home

Many people end up confused when it comes to finding a REALTOR – how do they know that they are picking the right one when there are so many of them around?  Looking at properties is the fun part of purchasing a home.  There is quite a bit more that goes into a real estate transaction and you want to insure you have someone looking out for your best interest.

SPECIALTIES

One thing to keep in mind is just like in any other industry, many real estate agents have areas of expertise.  Some REALTORS may specialize in listing waterfront homes, some specialize in working with first time buyers, lakehomes some may have a depth of knowledge in condos.

In addition to the the types of real estate transaction, you will find some agents will have more experience in the city where others focus on the outlying areas, subdivisions and suburbs.  There are very different skill sets when working in a metro area than working neighborhoods.  You get even a different specialty when looking for vacant land or in even waterfront homes as opposed to Brownstones in a heavily populated area.

As your agent what their specialty is.  If they say “everything” – for smaller areas that may be true – but in larger real estate markets, agents generally end up working the same types of real estate transactions on the same types of properties.

luxury homes

luxury homes

Finding an Agent

It is true that finding a real estate agent can be hard, but if you know what you are looking for you will be able to find a realtor who will help you sell your home fast and for a good price. Here are top tips on how to find a real estate agent:

  • Make sure that you choose a professional. While many people identify themselves as REALTORS, not all of them are members of the National Association of Realtors. Ask them to show you their membership card. It helps if they are members of other professional associations.
  • You want to find a real estate agent who has the right amount of experience. If you go with a REALTOR who is still learning how to sell homes you may end up having to wait for a long term before you can find the right buyer.
  • When you are looking for a REALTOR you should be looking into those that work in your neighborhood. Not only do they know who is in the market for a new home, they also know the buying trends of the market around you and they will help you sell your home for the right price.
  • A good REALTOR provides a comprehensive package. They will provide you with advice on how best to stage, they will bring in the right professionals to do repairs, they will help with valuation and they will also help you with all the paperwork that comes with selling your home. You may find that there are some who charge less because they don’t offer these services – it is not a good idea to go with such a realtor because it means that all these little additional tasks become your headache.
  • Choose a REALTOR who is within your range, Say, for example, that you want to sell your home for about $500,000 – you will not have an easy time of it if you choose a REALTOR who deals with high end homes that sell for millions.
  • If a REALTOR says that they are able to sell your home for a lot more than its valuation be wary – if your home is listed for a lot of money it will stay on the market a lot longer.
  • Good REALTORS are also good communicators – they will listen to you so as to understand your expectation and they will also talk to you often to let you know what kind of progress they are making finding prospective buyers. On your part let them know how you would prefer that they communicate with you – should they call, text or email?
  • Lastly, make sure that you are not paying your REALTOR more money than you should. Find out what the average rates are so that you can negotiate a good deal for yourself. Make sure that the realtor you choose doesn’t have any hidden costs.
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With the purchase of a home being the largest transaction of most peoples lives – choosing a REALTOR is an important decision.  Real estate is very litigious and there is a ton of paperwork and with so much money at stake, you want to trust the person driving.

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