How to Choose a Winning Real Estate Agent

Sometimes we hope that buying and selling a home would be a walk in the park but we all know that it is not; perhaps it is because we only do it a few times in our lifetimes, making one bad move will leave you with a bad taste in the mouth for a long time to come. Many times you wonder whether your home sale will maximize your dollars or whether the home you intend to buy is worth the debt you are getting into in the name of the mortgage. Since this is an emotionally charged decision you are going to make, you want to look for the best real estate agents to hold your hand during the process.

Since all the real estate brokerages that you see will be trying to make an impression, you want to know how to choose the best from among many. Finding the best real estate agents will require being able to balance between knowledge and chemistry; you may want to choose someone that you like because you are going to spend close to six or so months working together but they also need to be able to safeguard your financial interests. The best real estate agents are those who are willing to listen to our priorities very carefully and will not waste your and their time on properties that don’t fit your bill.

There are homeowners who make the mistake of calling the first agent whose sign they see and close the deal with them; start by asking your friends and family for several references and check on them. You may want to interview at least three different realtors from your shortlist before you can choose the one who has the best skills, experience and as much as possible whose personality matches your needs. Experts recommend real estate brokerages owned by realtors who have at least five years’ experience; take note though that there are those with less who can also do a good job.

The best real estate agents are not shy to how their credentials, they should be licensed by the state and as much as possible, deal with a realtor who does it as a full-time job. More than 50 percent of agents are designated realtors; this means that they are members of the National Association of Realtors and they are bound by the strict code of conduct and code of ethics by NAR. Since real estate is basically a local game, you are always better off with someone who operates in the areas where you have developed interest. They will be able to know the local market trends in addition to knowing about the availability if amenities such as commute times, local schools or some under the radar red flags that someone else may not easily know about.