Choosing a realtor is a big consideration that you should take when buying a home. You might be asking yourself if you, in fact, need a realtor at all. Well, yes you do. Here is an article showing you why you need a realtor. But after you decide to hire a realtor, the next logical question is what to look for in a realtor. Let me show you.
A Good Realtor Will Listen to You
The first thing that you MUST have in a realtor is someone who will listen to you. It may sound like it’s not a big deal but it is a really big deal! They need to understand what you are looking for in a house:
- Budget
- Size
- Bedrooms and bathrooms
- Amenities
- Location
- Etc.
I have seen realtors (and had one myself in the past) who did not listen to what I wanted at all. She simply wanted to put us in the most expensive house for our budget even though it was not what we wanted.
What the realtor wants for you is irrelevant, they need to understand your wants and needs and do the best they can to fulfill them.
However, that does not mean that they will always be able to fulfill every want that you have. Just know that going into the relationship with them.
In the area that you are looking, there may or may not be the type of house you are looking for that is within your budget.
The realtor will know that. They will know that because they should know the market in your area.
A Good Realtor Will Know the Local Market
Anyone can search through Zillow and look at listings, find out average house costs, etc.
A good realtor will know your local market very well.
They will know if houses are going with or without inspections over the past month or two.
They will know if VA loans are being seriously considered or not.
They will know what kinds of buyer or seller concessions are out there at any given time.
A realtor will know their market. And this comes simply from experience. There is really no other way to really know the market in any particular area without having experience.
So make sure that you are choosing a realtor with a lot of experience that knows the local market at the time that you are buying. Don’t pick a realtor who sells one house per year and knows what the market looked like last year but not this year.
A Good Realtor Will Teach You
When choosing a realtor, you need to pick one that will teach you.
This is actually true with most professional services (financial advisors, accountants, doctors, veterinarians, attorneys, etc.).
A good realtor will help to walk you through the home buying process (which is cumbersome at times) and teach you what to look for and watch out for along the way.
A bad realtor will not do this. A bad realtor will tell you to sit back and let them work. While there are certainly times when this is needed, a good realtor will have an open line of communication with you about the process and show you how it works.
You Should Genuinely Like Your Realtor
You don’t necessarily have to be best friends with your realtor. But you should like to be around them.
A good realtor is someone who is professional and can do all of the aforementioned items and be someone who you would like to invite to a weekend barbeque.
If you don’t like your realtor, it will be pretty awkward walking around multiple houses and riding around with them in their car.
Make sure that you get along with your realtor. If you don’t, that is okay. Not everyone gets along with everyone else. Just find a new realtor.
Final Thoughts
Picking a realtor can be a tough task sometimes. Make sure that you are asking your friends and family for recommendations because if your friends and family like them enough to recommend them, you will probably get along with them too.
And don’t be afraid to interview several realtors if you need to. You will likely be paying them a lot of money. You need to make sure that that money is being spent wisely on someone who will earn it.
You can do this!
I am here for you!
Until next time!
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