Last Updated on August 14, 2022 by HortonTeam
With so many real estate agencies in existence today, there are thousands and thousands of agents to choose from. Whether you’re moving elsewhere in Evansville or Newburgh or across the country, a good or bad agent experience can make your dream move a delight or a disaster. Do you know how to pick a real estate agent that is best suited for your needs? Here are some of the most important qualities to look for in a realtor.
Familiarization with Your Market
When you’re moving into a new area or selling your home, you need the services of an agent who thoroughly knows that market. Your agent should be able to tell you the trends and average prices of homes in the area, and the agent should be able to retrieve market statistics and figures if you request them. Not only will this help you get a better understanding of the market value in the area, but your agent will also be able to more accurately price your home. For buyers, this means your agent will be able to easily discuss topics like inventory, competitive offers, and finding you the perfect home for your budget.
Commitment
The desire to follow through is one of the most important factors when looking for a real estate agent. As the high turnover rate in the real estate industry suggests, many agents fall out of the business once they aren’t finding many houses to sell or buyers to shop with. With that in mind, you should decide on an agent who has ample experience in the industry and will work hard for you, regardless of whether they have four listings or forty. For buyers, it’s important to find an agent who will shop for homes with you the same way they would if you were their only client. A committed agent will also offer you sincere listening and advising, something which will really make a difference on your bottom dollar or winning offer for both sellers and buyers.
A committed agent will also offer you sincere listening and advising, something which will really make a difference on your bottom dollar or winning offer for both sellers and buyers. Click To TweetMarketing and Organizational Skills
You may love a certain listing agent, but what good are they if they aren’t doing anything to sell your home? Agents who actively market their homes for sale will always show better results when selling homes. Marketing can come in the form of print or digital advertising, brand awareness, or simply promoting your home within their sphere of influence. Although marketing isn’t as important for your buyer agent to find you a home, both listing and buyer agents need to have a good handle on their organizational skills. If your agent is constantly scrambling to find documents, statistics, or even contact information, chances are they will cause a problem later down the selling or buying process. In the right circumstance, this could make you lose out on a high offer or your next dream home.
Team of Licensed Agents
While it’s mandatory that your agent is licensed in their respective state to serve you, many agents choose to operate individually rather than with a team. There is a great selection of outstanding single agents, but there are even more single agents who aren’t capable of taking care of all their clients at once. Working with a team of agents not only provides you with the collective knowledge of each agent, but it also means your home will be exposed to the sphere of each agent. Exposure is one of the most important factors in getting buyers to look at your home, so having the spheres of multiple agents will automatically amplify your chances. For buyers, a team of agents will have more house leads coming in, meaning more chances for you to find your perfect home.
Honesty and Credibility
Perhaps the most important characteristics of a realtor agent are honesty and credibility. Even if the agent you’re looking at has a long track record of selling expensive homes and working with high-profile buyers, a discovery of malpractice or deception can create an extended headache for clients who are in agency with that agent. If your agent is honest with their advice and strategy, your chances of completing your contract successfully will increase dramatically. Make sure your agent’s stats are credible and were built legally and morally to avoid any problems down the road during negotiation or closing.
What do you look for in a real estate agent? The Horton Team works towards our mission and goals with these qualities and traits in mind at all times. If you would like to learn more about what to look for in an agent or have questions about selling or finding homes for sale in Newburgh or Evansville, get in touch with us today.
