What qualities should you look for in a real estate agent? Buyers and sellers should look for slightly different things.

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How do you pick a good agent? What do you look for in a good agent?

I recommend going online and looking for a team of agents. Find agents who have amazing reviews, like ours. You can find those reviews on Zillow, Google, or even Facebook. Just find the real estate team with the best reviews.

As for the qualities you should look for in an agent, it depends on whether you are buying or selling.

If you are buying a home, then you need to hire a full-time buyer’s agent. Keep in mind that the majority of agents who represent buyers are part-time. Ultimately, you want to work with a full-time agent to get your best shot at success.

Make sure that your agent is a strong negotiator and knows the local area well. Your agent needs to be able to negotiate a good deal for you, and guide you to the property that fits your needs. Let your buyer’s agent know about your plans for the near future so they can direct you to a home that will work for at least a few years. For instance, if you have kids that are about to enter school, let them know so they can find you a house near some good schools.

If you are selling a home, the number one quality you should pay attention to is the agent’s marketing ability. Your agent needs to be able to expose your home to a large number of buyers. Anyone can put a “For Sale” sign in the yard and list your home on the MLS, but to sell your home quickly and for top dollar, you need an agent with a solid marketing plan to draw buyers to your property.

Your listing agent should also have strong negotiating skills. One sentence can throw off your contract price either way, sometimes as much as 3 to 6%. That can be a huge amount of money for a single-family home.

Finally, you will have a more successful selling experience if you work with a full-time agent.

If you have any other questions about hiring a real estate agent or would like to learn more about our current market, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!