Excelsior Newsroom

How to Choose a Real Estate Agent? Ultimate Guide!

Written by Amber Harvey | Dec 20, 2022 5:10:00 PM

Buying a home is a big deal. It is one of the most important decisions you will ever have to make. Therefore, when the time finally comes for you to buy, you will need to find a real estate agent with the experience and expertise to help you make a good decision.

However, you will discover that there is no shortage of realty agents competing for your business through newspaper listings, online ads, and yard signage. With so many professionals available, you must familiarize yourself with how to choose a real estate agent if you don’t want to get confused.

What You Should Know About How to Choose a Real Estate Agent

Conduct a Comprehensive Comparison of the Real Estate Agent’s Online

With so many options online, some people don’t know how to choose the right real estate agent for their property ventures. If you are such a person, the best thing you can do is to go through some of the reviews done on the real estate agents you are considering hiring. It would also help if you remained keen on how they respond to negative comments. This will enable you to establish whether or not they are confident about their services, like buying real estate property.

Try To Get a Referral

If you have a house that you want to offload but don’t know how to choose a real estate agent for selling, there is nothing better than getting a personal referral from a friend or loved one. According to the stats, one in five sellers secures the services of an agent because of a referral.

Interview More Than One Agent

Interviewing a potential agent will give you an ideal opportunity to understand how they do things and get a sense of who they are. Ultimately, you are looking for an individual who is familiar with your area and understands your real estate needs. This is one of the primary pillars of how to choose a good real estate agent.

Some of the questions you can ask include how long they have been in the realty business, whether they work part-time or full-time, and what their portfolio looks like. You can also ask them what the typical price is for properties in your neighborhood.

In addition, if you want to know how to choose a real estate agent for buying, you should ask about their experience with other buyers. Try to find out how many clients they have helped to secure their dream homes.

Don’t Ignore Your Gut

All property buyers and sellers want to know how to choose the best real estate agent for their endeavor. However, even though their knowledge and experience give them the upper hand, you should not ignore your gut. The best thing you can do to create a win-win situation is to go with an agent you trust and feel comfortable with sharing your ideas and thoughts.

Go Through Your Contract

You should always keep your contract in mind when looking at how to choose a real estate agent when selling. Once you hire someone, your agreement should clearly spell out all the terms and conditions you have agreed to, including those of the real estate agents commission. In most cases, a seller pays 6% commission on home’s sales price, with half of that going to their agent and the other to the buyers. The commission can also be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. So remember, knowing how to choose a selling real estate agent and learning how to read through your contract are of equal importance.

Make Your Motives Clear

You must clearly state your motives and intent for selling or buying a home. Tell the agent what you want and why you want it. Doing so will allow you to determine whether or not they can deliver.

In Summary

With a challenging housing market with low inventory and high prices restricting buyers’ and sellers’ options, having a reputable agent working with you can make all the difference. As a result, if you have any questions or require real estate advice, feel free to reach out to us today at Excelsior Realty; we are here to help.