So, how can you tell if a realtor is best suited to help you buy your dream home? Ask these questions to find out.
- How long have you been a full-time realtor?
Being a real estate agent is a popular path for many individuals, especially given the recent housing boom that we saw during the pandemic. While it’s not critical that your realtor has decades of experience, you will want to make sure that being a realtor is their full-time job and they have enough experience to confidently shepherd you through the process and skillfully negotiate with all parties.
Experience gives realtors the benefit of 1) building many relationships with other agents that may help your offer be more noticeable and 2) knowing exactly what to do in nearly every situation imaginable because they’ve probably seen it before. If you opt for a realtor that’s new to the business, make sure that they are part of team of realtors. If your realtor is a part of a team, you'll take comfort in knowing that even though your realtor is inexperienced, they can lean on their team for advice and expertise when necessary.
- Can you tell me about some of your more recent transactions?
If you’re interviewing a realtor who has been active over the last 12 months, they’ll have plenty of stories to share about some of the transactions they’ve closed. As the client, you want to understand any recent hardship they faced in getting a previous client’s deal closed as well as any actions the agent did to get the client a better deal or help win a bidding war. Problems inevitably come up if you do enough transactions (maybe the inspection shows the house has mold or maybe the seller decides they don’t want to close on the closing date). If your realtor has come up with good solutions to those problems, you know you're in capable hands!
- Do you have an assistant or transaction coordinator?
Most busy, active realtors will have an assistant or transaction coordinator. It’s hard to show clients houses all day and make sure all the administrative tasks get handled! However, you will want to know how involved the assistant or transaction coordinator is and potentially talk to that person as well if they are going to be very involved. You don’t want to sign up to work with a realtor, only to be primarily working with an assistant, who you’ve never met and may not be the right fit for you.
- Can you give me a couple of past clients who would recommend you?
If your realtor came to you through a trusted family member or multiple sources, you may want to skip this question, but it never hurts to ask for additional references. If your realtor is reputable, they should have many raving fans who would recommend them. Online reviews can help but often times they don’t tell the whole story. Being able to talk to a past client can make you feel certain about your choice.
- Based on my home shopping criteria, what do you think are the best neighborhoods to see homes in? Why?
Every agent should have a favorite neighborhood for each demographic they serve. Whether their client is more interested in being walking distance to great restaurants and bars or a great school district, your agent should be able to pinpoint the area (or areas) that work best for you and give reasons as to why. It’s also a great way for the agent to show if their knowledge of the city, so pay close attention to the details given!
- What are you seeing in the market today?
Agents have a pulse on the housing market better than almost anyone else. They get buyer’s initial reactions to new listings and current purchase prices. When home activity drops or increases, they are the first to feel it. When a neighborhood’s desirability increases or decreases, they are the first to hear about it. A good realtor will be honest about what they are seeing and be able to provide details explaining why they are seeing it. Many realtors think that buyers want to only hear about the positives, but it’s important to find someone that can give you the hard truth. It's better to know the truth before you buy at the wrong time or in the wrong area and it’s too late!
While you don’t need to be blown away by every one of the realtor’s responses, we hope that their answers to these 6 questions will help give you confidence in their ability to get you the right home at a great price. If you need help finding a qualified realtor, let us know by completing this form and we will reach out to introduce you to a great realtor in your area!
