Home > Property Management > What to Know Before Working with a Real Estate Agent
A smart consumer will interview a potential real estate agent before they decide which agent they want to hire. Just as you’re sizing up the potential for a good fit, the real estate agent will likely be interviewing you, too. Be wary of agents who don’t ask you questions and probe for your motivation. You wouldn’t work with just any agent off the street, and good agents are selective about their clients, too.
Either interview the real estate agent over the phone or get together at the office for the first meeting. Don’t expect a top producing agent to meet at your home before you’ve made a selection. Not all agents are happy to have an interview. Top agents don’t want to fill out a survey. Limit your questions to only the most important for you and your needs. Here are some ideas of what to discuss and what to keep in mind:
Ask agents to provide a list of what they’ve listed and sold in the past year, with contact information. With past clients, it is nice to find out what the asking price was and then what the sale or rent price was. Another good question for sellers to ask is “How long were the homes on the market?
Check with your state’s regulatory body to find out whether a real estate agent you’re considering has a license. Do they have any disciplinary actions or complaints? That information may be posted online.
Peer-given awards count. One that really means something is “Realtor of the Year,” which is awarded by the state or local branch of the NAR. It is a huge endorsement for an agent to be judged so positively by their peers.
Doctors have specialties, and so do real estate agents, many of whom get additional training in particular areas. Initials after an agent’s name can indicate that the agent has taken classes in a certain area of real estate sales. Some of the designations include:
If the agent calls herself a Realtor with a capital R, that means she’s a member of the NAR.
Real estate agents promote themselves with yard signs, online ads, direct-mail postcards, and even sponsored public benches. Cutting through the advertising hype and finding the right agent can be tough.
This may seem like a very overwhelming process. Trying to find the ideal real estate agent can be a hectic and frustrating process. Alternatively, you can work with a company like Blueground. We handle every aspect of the apartment rental process. Blueground even finds and screens the tenants so you don’t have to. They sign long-term leases so you don’t have to worry about a thing!
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