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What to Look For When Finding a Real Estate Agent

February 24th, 2015  |  Home Insurance

Deciding to buy a house is a major, life-altering decision. Whether it’s your first house, an upgrade, or perhaps even a downgrade, there is so much to think of. From ensuring you have your down payment, to considering what kind of square footage, or the number of bathrooms you want, the decisions can seem never-ending and perhaps even overwhelming.

But one of the most important decisions you will make is choosing your real estate agent. A good real estate agent will save you time, money and hassle. They can provide you with valuable information and advice, and make sure you choose the best home possible for you and your family.

So how do you ensure you are choosing a great agent?

Heard It Through the Grapevine

A good real estate agent will have good references; but a great real estate agent will have great ones, and some of them may even be people you already know! Do you know someone who bought a house in an area you’re interested in? Perhaps a friend managed to snag a gorgeous house at a great deal? Ask them who they bought their home from. And bonus for them—many real estate agents will offer past clients incentives to refer them, so your family and friends will be more than happy to get you in touch!

Look Them Up

Real estate agents need to be licensed by the state or province they are working in. This ensures that they know all of the laws and regulations in your area, and ensures that both you and the seller will be signing legally binding contracts with no hidden issues. Most places will also keep track of any disciplinary action or complaints made against an agent. In many places, this information is available to the public, so take a moment to see if you live somewhere where you can look up this information online. If your agent is legit, they’ll have nothing to hide.

You should also spend some time looking at their personal website. What kind of listing do they have, and do they represent the houses they’re selling well? Is their website professional and up–to-date? Remember, your agent is your representative when you are buying a home, so make sure they are making a good impression for you.

Quiz Them

Any real estate agent worth their salt will be keeping up on the market. So, ask them about it. Ask them about the house around the corner from you that recently sold, or the place down the street from the open house that also happens to be for sale. It is your real estate agent’s job to know the market, and that includes the value of comparable properties in the area in which you are interested.

While choosing a real estate agent can be tough, a little bit of research and knowledge can make sure you make the best choice possible when choosing your real estate agent.

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