A good real estate agent is invaluable for homeowners and prospective homeowners. Unless you have a unique circumstance when selling or buying a home, you’re unlikely to need the help of a real estate lawyer. This means that your real estate agent is often like your personal lawyer for the home buying and selling process.
What is your industry experience?
Naturally, you will want to know your real estate agents general resume. An experienced agent can make the buying and selling process smooth and can help protect you from bad deals or shady situations. If your agent is inexperienced, you could be left vulnerable or may be leaving money on the table.
How long have you been in the area?
Experience is key, but in-depth industry knowledge is only half of the battle. Real estate is a location-focused industry, and understanding the individual nuances of a particular area is vital to finding the best deals and understanding property values. Agents with an in-depth knowledge of the area will understand what locals look for in homes and what neighborhoods are hot (and why). This insider information can go a long way.
What is your preferred method of communication?
Some agents prefer the traditional methods of phone calls and in-person meetings, while others rely on technology to get information across quickly in our fast-paced world. Understanding what your potential agent expects is key to starting communication off on the right foot. If you expect to consistently meet in person, but your agent prefers email, you may find that you’ll have to adjust your expectations or that another agent would fit your personality better.
How quickly do you respond to inquiries?
A real estate agent that is hard to contact and impossible to reach will create frustrating situations for you. If you see a home for sale that you love and want to tour, or you have a question, you may miss out if your real estate agent isn’t prepared to respond in a timely manner. On the other hand, an agent that seems available 24/7 may only be that way because they have few clients, which could be a red flag.
Are you a full-time or part-time real estate agent?
Some agents only work part of the year or part-time entirely. As a general rule, a full-time agent may have a better understanding of market trends and fluctuations in the area. If you do decide to work with a part-time agent, be certain they have a good deal of local experience.
