Whether you are looking to buy or sell a home -- or both -- you will need the services of a real estate agent. Finding a reliable and trustworthy real estate agent should be the first step for any home sale or purchase. Before you hire a realtor in your area, you should first know how to find the best real estate agents.
Depending on where you live, finding a quality real estate agent may not be as easy as you think. If you're moving to a big city, there will be a surplus of real estate agents to help you. If you're moving to a smaller town, it may be harder to find a real estate agent to represent you.
When buying a home, the real estate agent will help you find a place in your price range and assist you with all of the necessary paperwork. However, the BEST agents only pick listings that best suit your needs and get the word out with necessary marketing.
TIP: Always hire an agent who is a member of the National Association of Realtors. The NAR's goal is to protect people's rights to own, use and transfer property. By choosing a real estate agency (or agent) affiliated with this group, you can be sure that your home-buying and home-selling will be handled by professionals.
1. Search online for real estate agents in your area
The easiest way to find the best real estate agent is to use a search engine or browse realtor directories for your area. To be sure you find a high-quality agency, you should search for the top-rated agents in your area.
Find out everything you need to know about the agent. Search their name to see what they have already sold and how successful they are in making deals.
In the current age of information and technology, a real estate agent should have some sort of online presence -- either through a personal website or social media account. They should be adept at responding quickly to emails and texts whenever you have questions or concerns about the home-buying process.
2. Get referrals from people who recently moved
Instead of trying to find an agency on your own, talk to friends and relatives that have recently bought or sold a home. Getting a referral will make you more comfortable using the realtor's services. At the same time, if your friend or relative had a negative experience with a particular agent or agency, you'll know to look elsewhere.
Friends and family always want the best for you and will recommend an agent that meets your needs. Ask questions such as:
- Who would you recommend and who should I avoid?
- How can I contact the agent?
- How long did it take the agent to sell or find you a home?
- How long does it take for them to reply?
- Do they try to save you money?
3. Meet realtors who are hosting open houses in your area
Experience the services of a real estate agent without committing by attending open houses in your community. This way you can see how certain agents work and how focused they are on selling homes.
This is a great way to connect to local agents and compare them to others. View the open houses as an interview process to see if they meet your needs.
4. Explore the neighborhood in search of "For Sale" signs
Locate a real estate agency by looking at "For Sale" signs in your neighborhood. By monitoring the time between when the sign gets put up to when the house gets sold, you'll get a better idea of the various real estate agents and agencies in your area.
If you notice the same agent's sign on multiples properties nearby, you know that they are an efficient marketer. This works best if you are not in a rush to move.
5. The best realtors keep in constant contact with their customers
Between the initial offer and the closing, there are a lot of things going on behind the scenes between the real estate agents and the lawyers. Find an agent who will keep you updated with the progress, so you aren't left in the dark.
As documents are passed back and forth and negotiations take place, there should be a lot of back-and-forth communication. A real estate agent that will keep you in the loop and constantly update you on any developments is very important, especially for first-time home buyers.
6. Be patient while you research real estate agencies
Take the time to search -- do not rush the process. It is important that you go about this to find the best agent not the easiest to find or quickest to answer. Inexperienced agents take the first offer and just want to finish the deal, while the best agents know when the offer is in your best interest.
These days, a lot of agents show real estate while holding other jobs. Part-time real estate agents, while just as knowledgeable about the local real estate market, cannot dedicate as much time to you because of outside obligations and commitments. You want to find an agent who will be there to guide you and answer any questions throughout the whole process.
7. Check the Better Business Bureau for positively rated realtors
To make sure you get the best agent, you need to make sure that they are legit. Check reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if there were any previous complaints or disciplinary issues.
Confirm they are licensed with the state to represent you. A well-qualified and reliable real estate agent can prove they took the necessary steps of becoming a realtor. If this information is not posted online, you can always ask for it.
8. Ask if the real estate agent won any professional awards
The best real estate agents usually receive awards for outstanding work in selling or representing their customers. "Realtor of the Year" is awarded by the state or local branches of the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
9. Hire a realtor with the right credentials
All professionals have specialties -- the best real estate agents are no different. Passionate agents train in additional areas to make sure they are top tier. Certifications indicate that the agent has taken classes in a certain area of real estate sales.
Here is what to look for:
- Crtified Residential Specialist (CRS): trained in handling residential real estate
- Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR): educated in representing buyers in transactions
- Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES): trained on helping senior buyers and sellers
- Graduate Real Estate Institute (GRI): completed a curriculum to become nationally recognized professional
The drawback to hiring a real estate agent is pretty clear: it costs money to do so. Just as when you buy a house with a real estate agent, they get their cut. They will either charge an upfront fee for their services or receive a monthly percentage of the cost of your rental for the extent of the lease.