Buying real estate is one of the most significant transactions you will ever make in your life, so arming yourself with the very best person to assist you is essential. It is a real estate agent's competency, motivation, skills, experience, and support personnel that makes all the difference as to whether you achieve a strong result or not. With many real estate agent professionals to choose from, finding the right one can feel overwhelming. Here are tips to help you when choosing a real estate agent.
Do Your Due Diligence
Start by examining an agent's online presence. Check the agent's website and social media accounts. Request their testimonials and see what clients say about them.
Be sure to check with RECO to find out whether the agent you're considering is licensed or has any disciplinary actions. The provincial regulators provide the ability to search for licensees and check if they have complaints lodged against them.
Look for Experience
When interviewing agents be sure to find out how long they have been in the industry and if they work in real-estate part-time or full-time. An experienced, full-time real estate professional will likely have already experienced market ups and downs and will know how to navigate current conditions. To get an idea of what type of experience someone has, you can ask to see a list of their recent transactions to see what areas and types of properties they have experience working with.
Strong Local Market Knowledge
Every market is different. When buying condos in Toronto, you'll need a real estate agent who knows local market trends and patterns like the back of their hand and who can help guide you through the nuances of your specific locality.
A good way to gauge local market knowledge is simply to ask. Inquire about the basics, like average time on the market for newly listed condos and average sale prices, but also ask about any unique trends regarding your local market. A real-estate agent with sufficient local market knowledge will make work easier for everyone.
Explain Your Communication Preferences
Make sure you're on the same page from the get-go. Discuss how the agent will keep you informed and how often you expect to hear from them. If you prefer email but the agent is most responsive to phone calls, you may not be a good fit for each other. If you know you're going to have a lot of questions and expect quick responses, but the realtor usually just sends bi-weekly updates, you may want to find someone who is a better fit.
Ask the Realtor For Services They Offer
It's very important to ask a realtor the services and resources they offer. This will help you know whether they have experience working with condos or not. If you find that your potential agent has very little experience in your area of interest, then it's advisable to look for a professional-specific area of interest.
Pick a Realtor who is Tech-Savvy
There are many ways your agent can use technology, and strong agents will take advantage of this to be more productive and get the best results for you. When choosing a real estate agent, check out your agent's current listings on MLS. Is the agent active on social media, and do they use it to market themselves and their clients' properties? This is one way of finding out their utilization of technology.
Real Estate Negotiations Skills
In the property business, there are many elements, unique to each sale, that are up for discussion. You deserve to feel well-informed and confident throughout the negotiation process. An experienced realtor should provide helpful insights and knowledgeable advice about the best condos.
They should safeguard your needs throughout the entire property journey. With the right agent, there should be zero doubt that they have your best interest at heart.
Undivided Attention
While you want a realtor with lots of experience, ask how many other clients he or she is working with currently. Generally speaking, if it's a high number of condo buyers or sellers, question whether you'll get the attention required.