You made the decision to buy a property or sell your home.
Congratulations!
Buying your first house can be the start of a wonderful journey towards moving into your dream family home or building up your portfolio with new, appreciating assets.
Selling your home gives you plenty of possibilities, too. Perhaps you’re looking for an upgrade to your current living situation, or you want to move to a new city or neighborhood to see what else is out there for you and your family to enjoy.
Selling your home gives you plenty of possibilities, too. Perhaps you’re looking for an upgrade to your current living situation, or you want to move to a new city or neighborhood to see what else is out there for you and your family to enjoy.
No matter the reason, you need to start at step one in accomplishing your real estate goals.
Find an experienced, knowledgeable, and trustworthy REALTOR.
A great REALTOR lessens your search time when finding the right home to buy or helps you maximize every dollar to get the right price for the home you sell. Hiring the right agent can be the difference between feeling fulfilled after closing and being underwhelmed by the entire process.
But where do you start?
There are more than 3 million active real estate licenses in the United States, so you have an uncomfortable amount to choose from. Rather than overwhelming yourself with the amount of REALTORS available, stick to the exact areas and locations that you aspire to live in or where you are selling your home.
Once you find a few REALTOR you might want to work with in the areas you want to explore, reach out to each of them and see who is the best fit for you.
To get started, ask each REALTOR these 7 questions so you hire the one to make your dream home a reality.
How Long Have You Been an Agent?
Experience in real estate should be at the top of your list when qualifying potential REALTORS you want to work with. An agent that has been in the business for a few years is better able to gauge the local market, make recommendations to you on the best buying and selling process, and anticipate any problems that you could run into along the way.
Plus, more experienced agents own a larger network of contacts and other real estate professionals, so they gain an inside scoop on local market trends and comparable homes. This finds you the best selling price or buying point.
The average REALTOR has at least 8 years of experience in the industry, but these numbers vary by location. The more experienced agent you find, the more knowledge and insight you gain to feel more confident in the real estate process.
Plus, more experienced agents own a larger network of contacts and other real estate professionals, so they gain an inside scoop on local market trends and comparable homes. This finds you the best selling price or buying point.
The average REALTOR has at least 8 years of experience in the industry, but these numbers vary by location. The more experienced agent you find, the more knowledge and insight you gain to feel more confident in the real estate process.
Do You Work With Both Buyers and Sellers?
Many real estate agents choose to specialize in working with buyers or sellers. Finding a REALTOR with such specialty can help you make informed decisions. They have the experience of working with people just like you.
However, finding an agent who works with both sets of clients gives you valuable insights into the entire real estate process, such as what potential buyers may think of your current listing, or what the motivation of a particular seller might be so you can seal the deal with an amazing offer. Be sure to match your real estate goals with the agent that can best achieve them.
However, finding an agent who works with both sets of clients gives you valuable insights into the entire real estate process, such as what potential buyers may think of your current listing, or what the motivation of a particular seller might be so you can seal the deal with an amazing offer. Be sure to match your real estate goals with the agent that can best achieve them.
Do You Work Full-Time or Part-Time?
It’s no secret.
Plenty of people dive into real estate as a part-time side hustle. Plenty of them are successful and can help you move into the home of your dreams. But it’s very important to ask this question of each REALTOR you interview to know exactly the type of agent you can expect to work with.
Full-time agents, especially experienced ones, work around the clock and communicate with you every step of the way in your real estate journey. They are more likely to anticipate potential problems, and help you through your own fears and reservations about buying or selling your home.
Plenty of people dive into real estate as a part-time side hustle. Plenty of them are successful and can help you move into the home of your dreams. But it’s very important to ask this question of each REALTOR you interview to know exactly the type of agent you can expect to work with.
Full-time agents, especially experienced ones, work around the clock and communicate with you every step of the way in your real estate journey. They are more likely to anticipate potential problems, and help you through your own fears and reservations about buying or selling your home.
Have You Helped Buyers Find Homes in These Areas?
Location, location, location.
Southern California is one of the most expansive and diverse real estate markets in the country. You want a specialist with multiple years of experience and knowledge about every city and neighborhood you want to explore. Furthermore, you want someone that has a proven track record of helping buyers and sellers in the area.
This question lends itself to having even more of your questions answered. Sometimes, you find answers to questions you didn’t even think of asking, such as:
Southern California is one of the most expansive and diverse real estate markets in the country. You want a specialist with multiple years of experience and knowledge about every city and neighborhood you want to explore. Furthermore, you want someone that has a proven track record of helping buyers and sellers in the area.
This question lends itself to having even more of your questions answered. Sometimes, you find answers to questions you didn’t even think of asking, such as:
- What schools and districts are best to live near?
- What’s the noise level and traffic situation of a certain neighborhood?
- Where are the nearest grocery stores and shopping centers to a particular home?
- What are comparable homes in the city selling for?
That’s the confidence you gain from working with a real estate agent that specializes in specific cities and neighborhoods. They know the location better than everyone else.
How Long Does it Take Buyers You’ve Worked With to Find and Purchase a Home?
If you are serious about purchasing a home, you want an agent that delivers results fast. You want someone who is dedicated to researching, finding, and showing you the exact homes and neighborhoods you want.
Once you find a REALTOR, it takes anywhere from a few days to 3+ months of browsing and showing homes to find the right one.
If you’re talking to a buyer’s agent and they average 6+ months working with their clients, that could be a red flag.
Once you find a REALTOR, it takes anywhere from a few days to 3+ months of browsing and showing homes to find the right one.
If you’re talking to a buyer’s agent and they average 6+ months working with their clients, that could be a red flag.
What Professional Contacts Do You Have?
A solid, reliable network of professional contacts makes the difference in closing a sale with confidence or anxiety. While you can anticipate issues and speed bumps in the sales process, a good network keeps things running smooth.
An experienced REALTOR will have a growing list of reliable, trustworthy people to navigate the journey with you, including mortgage brokers, appraisers, general contractors, inspectors, landscapers, lawyers, and more. And each of them will feel as an extension of the REALTOR themself because they have worked together for plenty of clients.
Consider the REALTORS network as an asset like their team around them.
An experienced REALTOR will have a growing list of reliable, trustworthy people to navigate the journey with you, including mortgage brokers, appraisers, general contractors, inspectors, landscapers, lawyers, and more. And each of them will feel as an extension of the REALTOR themself because they have worked together for plenty of clients.
Consider the REALTORS network as an asset like their team around them.
What Sets You Apart From Other REALTOR?
A simple, but vital, question to assess the confidence and authenticity that the REALTOR carries when they speak.
Buying or selling a home can be a life-changing, emotional decision. You want a REALTOR in your corner that keeps you calm, represents you with authority, and handles problems with conviction. Ask yourself if you feel confident in the REALTOR delivering on the promises made and having the experience to back up those claims.
Because of the large investments involved, you need a REALTOR that makes you feel protected every step of the way. A top agent eliminates the guesswork and stress.
Use these questions to guide your search to match with the right real estate agent. Find a REALTOR who makes you feel at home before you even find it.
Buying or selling a home can be a life-changing, emotional decision. You want a REALTOR in your corner that keeps you calm, represents you with authority, and handles problems with conviction. Ask yourself if you feel confident in the REALTOR delivering on the promises made and having the experience to back up those claims.
Because of the large investments involved, you need a REALTOR that makes you feel protected every step of the way. A top agent eliminates the guesswork and stress.
Use these questions to guide your search to match with the right real estate agent. Find a REALTOR who makes you feel at home before you even find it.
