Whether you are looking to buy or sell a property, you should have a real estate agent. While there are many agents in the market that you can go for, not all are right for you. For you to hire the right professional you need to consider a number of factors that include:
Availability
Is the agent available at your convenient time? Since we are all busy, you most likely have limited time to scout for a house to buy. The last thing you want is to contact the agent and he/she tells you that he/she isn’t available when you have time to look at some houses.
For you to have an easy time finding the house of your dreams you should work with a professional who isn’t too tied down with work. Even if the agent is busy and has a lot of work, he/she should have assistants that can accompany you when you are available.
A great way of telling that the professional will be available when you need him/her is to contact them at an abrupt hour and see if they will be available for you. If they aren’t available, it’s not worth it spending time with them.
Trust
Can you trust the agent that you are looking to hire? Remember that you want a confidant in your journey to owning a house. If this is the first time you are making the purchase, you want someone who will be there to guide you through the process so that you don’t buy a house that will be a waste in the long run.
The contractor will not only help you in choosing a house that is ideal for your family, he/she should also help you in choosing one that will sell for a much higher price in the event you decide to sell it.
There are some agents that will misguide you so that they can get a better cut from the seller. You don’t want this.
Are you looking to sell a house? You also want someone that you can trust. You should get an agent who will work with you and help you in coming up with a favorable price for your property.
The contractor should also help you in finding a buyer who will buy the house at the best price. You don’t want someone who will tell you to sell the house to anyone so that they can get a commission.
Are they experienced?
When you are looking to buy or sell a house and it’s your first time, you need someone who will hold your hand. There is no way you can work as two novices, can you? As you are choosing an agent, find someone who has been in the industry for years.
In addition to the expert making it easy for you to sell or buy a house as he will have many customers, he/she will also effectively guide you on some of the blunders you should avoid making in the real estate market.
Are you compatible?
There is a reason you are friends with certain people and not others. The same thing applies in business. There are some people that you can work with, and others that you can’t. It’s called compatibility. You want someone that you will have an easy time working with. This is someone that you can communicate with on the same level.
The house buying or selling process can go on for months and there is nothing as frustrating as being caught up with someone with someone that you can’t stand. Even if the agent is experienced and has the necessary connections, try and work with someone with a great personality and you can work with them for hours without getting bored.
Go with your gut feeling
It all ends up with your gut feeling. How do you feel about the agent you are looking to hire? Is he/she fit for your personality? Are you comfortable around them?
When you are interviewing a realtor and your intuition tells you that he/she isn’t the right one for you, you should believe in it and don’t work with them regardless of their credentials. If on the other hand, the intuition tells you to go with a given agent, go with it.