5 Things to Look for in a Real Estate Agent
Posted by JD Esajian // January 28, 2011
If you’re selling a home, having a fantastic real estate agent can make your life a lot easier. A good real estate agent knows how you can maximize profit on your property, while also taking a lot of the complicated paperwork and negotiations off of your hands. You can find a great real estate agent by looking for the following five characteristics:
- Experience selling homes in your neighborhood. Ask your real estate agent candidates which homes they’ve sold in the past. Are any of the homes they’ve sold in your neighborhood? A local real estate agent will be familiar with your particular area and can guide you towards making the most profit for your neighborhood.
- Past client success stories. Look for real estate agents with lots of client success stories. If they’re not upfront with their past successes, ask for references and examples of properties they’ve sold in the past. If at all possible, referrals can be a good way to find a successful real estate agent. Ask your friends and family about their real estate agents.
- Experience with new media. In today’s market, it’s important to have all the advantages possible when selling a home. Ask your potential real estate agents about their experience with new media. Are they able to list your home on Craigslist and other online places? Will they work with social media, such as Facebook, to maximize your home’s potential?
- A license. While this seems self explanatory, it never hurts to double-check. A licensed real estate agent has the training and background necessary to complete the complex paperwork that comes with selling a home. A real estate license ensures that you have a quality agent who is familiar with the industry.
- Several homes sold in the past year. One of the first things to ask a potential real estate agent is how many homes he or she has sold in the past year. In today’s real estate market, a higher number of sold homes can indicate a quality agent.
Don’t let yourself get saddled with a bad real estate agent. Selling a home is a complicated process and you need a great agent on your side. Don’t get lured in by a fancy billboard alone. Make sure you take the time to ask questions to determine just how successful your real estate agent is. Asking these questions now will save you plenty of time and frustration down the road.
What are your experiences with real estate agents? What is the one characteristic you look for in a real estate agent? Share your success (and horror!) stories below in the comments.