Are you getting ready to list your home for sale?
If so, you’re more than likely considering hiring a realtor to represent the sale. Of course, a realtor will take care of all of the paperwork and preparation involved in selling your home. But they’re also going to ensure that your home sells for the highest price possible.
That being said, choosing a realtor is no easy feat. This is especially complicated by the fact that there are over 2 million active realtors operating throughout the U.S. alone. With so many realtors to choose from, how can you ensure that you’re making the best possible choice?
To help, we’re sharing nine simple tips on how to find a good realtor. After reading this, you’ll feel all the more prepared to make such an important decision.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
1. Take to the Internet
In searching for an agent, one of the first steps that buyers or sellers take is to browse the internet.
This is one of the best and most simple means of finding a realtor. Here, you can browse thousands of local profiles and visit the realtor’s personal website. Browsing online will provide you with the opportunity to compare realtors and read more about each realtor’s selling strategies and experience.
This is also an efficient means of contacting different realtors to set up an initial meeting.
2. Ask Your Network for a Referral
If you’re entirely new to real estate, don’t hesitate to ask your friends and family for a realtor referral.
This is a great way to ensure that you’re working alongside a realtor that you trust. In an attempt to regain a referral, a referred realtor is always going to work extra hard to satisfy both parties.
To initiate a referral, speak with your friends and family members that have sold a home in the past. In reality, your network is only going to refer you to a realtor that they were notably impressed with.
3. Read Testimonials
In your decision to sell your house, you want to ensure that you’re making the best possible decision.
To make the best decision, you’re going to want to read a number of reviews for different realtors. After all, we live in a world where business testimonials have never been more important to consumers. In fact, 91% of consumers state that they read online reviews before choosing to visit a business.
To gain an understanding of what it’s like to work with the realtor in question, be sure to read their reviews online. This will provide you with a glimpse as to what it’s like to work with this professional. With this, you’ll get to know the good and the bad of your prospective realtors.
4. Interview Several Agents
Let’s face it, finding the right realtor can feel a lot like dating.
What many buyers and sellers fail to do in hiring a realtor is meeting with several different realtors. This is a crucial part of the hiring process and should be practiced by every buyer and seller.
In fact, it might take you four different interviews before finding realtor you felt most compatible with. While this might feel time-consuming, it’s well worth the time to find a realtor that you feel will best represent you in your sale.
After all, a home is one of the most significant investments you’ll make in a lifetime. With that being said, it’s crucial to feel the utmost confidence in the realtor you choose to represent your listing.
5. Locate a Neighborhood Expert
If you’re looking to get top dollar for your home, it could be worthwhile to work with a neighborhood expert.
This realtor will know anything and everything about the neighborhood in which you reside. They’ll know the current inventory, what homes have sold for recently, and what’s coming up for sale in the near future.
This type of realtor is also going to have a number of connections to buyers in your neighborhood. Not only will this get more eyes on your property, but it’s going to ensure that your local marketing is top-notch.
When a realtor knows the neighborhood in which they’re selling, they’re all the more likely to showcase the neighborhood in a positive light. They can highlight the perks of the neighborhood to potential buyers and showcase the reasons that your neighborhood would make for a great lifestyle.
6. Consider The Element of Compatability
Of course, it’s crucial to ensure that your realtor is great at their job. After all, you want to ensure that your home sells for top dollar and that you’re satisfied with the overall experience.
However, it’s also important to consider whether you connect with this realtor on a more personal basis. Remember, you’re going to be spending a lot of time with this realtor as well as inviting them into your home.
Not only will you be communicating on a routine basis, but you’re also going to be spending plenty of time with this realtor in person. This could involve anything from general meetings to ’round-the-clock showings in your home.
This is why finding a realtor that you’re compatible with is so important. Without a personal connection to your realtor, your time spent together is surely going to feel like a chore.
7. Visit Their Social Media Pages
In today’s day and age, the majority of realtors will have an established presence on social media.
For some, this might come in the form of Facebook and Instagram. For others, this may come in the form of Twitter or LinkedIn. Whatever it may be, a realtor’s social media pages will tell you a lot about who they are as both a personal as well as a professional.
This is a great opportunity to get to know potential realtors on a more personal basis. In fact, 25% of realtors report using their social media as a means of building and maintaining relationships with their clients. It’s also a simple way to learn more about how they handle themselves in a business setting and what type of listings they typically deal with.
In previewing their social media pages, you can feel that you’re getting to know them before actually meeting them. Not only will this help you to narrow down who you choose to interview, but it will also help you to learn more about each realtor and their specialty.
8. Pre-Determine Their Availability
Next, you’re going to want to speak openly about the availability of each realtor you interview with.
Of course, everyone is going to work with the best realtor in the city. But, does this type of realtor really having the time necessary to represent you in your sale? When it comes to choosing your realtor, it’s important to be realistic as to their availability.
Let’s face it, some realtors are busier than others. For busy realtors, fitting your sale into their already busy schedule isn’t always realistic. While there’s no denying their strengths as a realtor, busy realtors can’t always take on new clients.
It’s also important to speak openly as to your schedules and weekend plans. For example, does your potential agent like to spend their weekends in a cottage in the country? Or will they be available and ready to serve you throughout the week and on weekends?
This is why it’s important to determine if their anticipated schedule will match yours. after all, weekends are incredibly important in the real estate world and it’s crucial to ensure that your realtor is available most weekends.
9. Consider Tech-Savviness
Just how tech-savvy are the realtors that you’re considering hiring?
In today’s day and age, it’s incredibly important to align yourself with a realtor that’s highly proficient with technology. The truth is, a top-notch agent is always going to use technology to achieve the highest price possible for your home. To get an idea of your realtor’s technological abilities, be sure to browse their past listings.
Did the agent use the latest video technology to showcase the interior of the home? Or, perhaps they invested in drone footage to provide an ariel view of the home. Either way, you want to ensure that your realtor will be using technology to showcase your home in the best light possible.
You’ll also want to inquire as to their digital marketing strategies. Do they understand the ins and outs of advertising a property online? With this, you’ll want to ensure that they know how to create effective advertisements towards the target market for the home.
When we consider that the majority of buyers locate their dream home online, it’s simple to understand why hiring a digitally capable agent is a worthwhile investment.
The Keys to Finding the Best Realtor
If you’re feeling overwhelmed in choosing the best realtor, you’re not alone in your struggles.
With so many realtors to choose from, making an informed decision can feel incredibly daunting. After all, a good realtor could be the difference between a good selling price and a great selling price. If you want to break a record with your home, it’s crucial to invest your money in a high-quality realtor.
To help, we’re sharing our guide on how to find the best realtor to represent your sale. In reviewing these tips, you can rest assured that you’ll be all the more likely to make an informed decision. Go on, it’s time to find your realtor and start the selling process.
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