How to find the right real estate agent

So, you’ve decided to buy a home! This will be an exciting, and perhaps stressful, time for you, so you want to make sure you have the right professionals on your side to make it as easy as possible. One of the most important people you will need is a real estate agent. Realtors are essential; they help you find properties, submit offers, negotiate, and they make you look far more attractive to sellers. However, finding the right real estate agent is its own task. Here, we review some important tips to keep in mind as you search for the perfect agent.

Search local

The right real estate agent should be familiar with the area you want to buy your next property. Since you’ll work with them to find the right home and put in the right offer, you will want to be sure they know the ins and outs of the location. Local agents will know where amenities are in the area, where the market is headed, and the city’s demographics. They are also more likely to have connections to the other professionals you will need to be in contact with throughout the process, like home inspectors and appraisers. With that in mind, do your best to find an agent who is local to the area where you will be primarily looking. A quick Google search will likely bring up tons of results for potential agents you can contact!

Listen to your family and friends

The internet is great for looking up reviews of potential agents, but you should also take advantage of any friends and family who have recently purchased a home. In general, the opinions of our close contacts mean more than those of people we don’t know online. Your family and friends can give you real, detailed information about the agent they worked with, and whether they were a good fit. Google reviews are useful, but they are more basic and vague than an in-depth breakdown from someone you know well. If you know someone who has some advice, hear them out. If you decide not to go for the agent they used, it still costs you nothing to consider the option!

Meet with potential agents 

If you have ever tried online dating, you know what it’s like when someone seems perfect for you — until you meet them in person. The same can go for real estate agents. While you’re not looking for lasting love with your realtor, you are looking for someone with whom you can build a good relationship and foundation of trust. After all, they are helping you make the biggest purchase of your life! It’s important to take potential agents offline and meet them in person. Some agents will be much more comfortable to be around than others because your personalities more closely align. That’s not to say other agents aren’t as experienced or as good at their job, but it simply means you can see yourself working better with one person over another.

Be sure your agent is responsive 

We all know the frustration of not hearing back from friends, family, colleagues, partners, or anyone else when you have something important to discuss. Since everything you discuss during the buying process is important, you don’t want to run into the same issue with your realtor. The right real estate agent will be an excellent communicator. They will address and answer your questions, have conversations with you, and help you find the right home in a timely manner. This speedy communication is essential in a busy market, so it’s not something to underestimate.

Do your own research

While we do stress the importance of asking friends and family for their opinions, you should also be sure to do your own research in your quest to find the right real estate agent. Everyone’s needs are different, so it’s not a guarantee the agent who worked for your friend will be perfect for you, too. Look at different agents’ websites, read their reviews, and take a peek at their social media. On the surface, it might seem like all agents are the same, but each one will be unique in their own way. Look at reviews of the agent. It always helps to ease your mind when you see positive reviews from other new buyers!

Ask about their plan

What does this even mean? Your agent’s plan is to help you find a home to buy, right? This is true, but agents can have different methods and strategies for accomplishing this. You should ask potential agents to go over how their process works and how they can help you buy a home in a particular market. For example, if you are a new buyer trying to purchase a home in Halifax, your agent should have a strategy to help first-time buyers secure a home in a busy market. Buyers all have different needs, so your agent should be able to tell you the best strategy for yours.

Finding the right real estate agent might take a bit of time. Don’t rush this process, because you will be working closely with your agent throughout the entire journey. You want to be sure they are the right match for you! If you aren’t sure where to start, feel free to ask us for recommendations. We are in contact with several excellent real estate agents and we’d be happy to point you in the right direction.

If you have any questions about your mortgage, get in touch with us at Clinton Wilkins Mortgage Team! You can call us at (902) 482-2770 or contact us here.