7 Tips for Hiring the Right Real Estate Agent
When you get right down to it – a house is a house is a house.
Whether it’s big or small, new or old, modern or historic, it comes down to a roof, walls, bedrooms and bathrooms.
Now, we’re being a bit simplistic, but think about this…
The real choice you need to make when buying a home is deciding which
neighborhoods fit your lifestyle.
What’s Your Choice Lifestyle?
- Do you want to be in the thick of the action or do you prefer your home to be a retreat at the end of the day?
- Do you want to avoid driving as much as possible or is a commute part of your routine?
- Do you hate yard work or do you yearn for a place where you can plant that vegetable garden?
- Do you want to be in the City near funky, local shopping and non-stop action or does being in the ‘burbs with the mall scene your cup of tea?
- Last but not least – Beach, Desert, Mountains, or laid-back Lake?
All of the above?
Whatever your lifestyle, there’s surely a neighborhood that you can find that will check off all the boxes.
But First, You Need to Find A Realtor
You don’t need to know everything about buying and selling real estate if you hire a real estate professional who does.
As Steve Jobs once said “It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do, we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do1”
Well the same goes for hiring a real estate agent.
7 Tips for Hiring the Right Real Estate Agent2
But before hiring that agent – here are seven tips to finding an agent that you are comfortable with to handle – what is most certainly – the largest financial transaction of your life.
- Talk with agents’ recent clients.
- Check for license and disciplinary actions.
- Ask about professional awards.
- Select an agent with the right credentials.
- Find out how experienced an agent is.
- Look at the agent’s current listings.
- Gauge the agent’s knowledge of the area.
A qualified real estate agent can get you a comprehensive overview of market trends, schools, demographics and more. Plus, they can probably negotiate a great deal for you since they probably understand the overall market dynamics and trends.
Plus, if you already own a home and are looking to sell – they can probably sell your house faster than you could on your own.
Where to Find Real Estate Options
Moving into a new house or community is a big change. Before deciding which type of community to move into, you should do careful research on the advantages and disadvantages of each option. Everyone has different needs and priorities, so your decision should be based on your lifestyle.
An online search can show you all of the options available where you currently live, letting you get quotes, compare homes and communities, and find the perfect fit.
Happy hunting!
