Tag: Realtor

Finding the Best Realtor: Our Top Tips

Finding the best realtor can be quite the challenge. When you’re selling your home or trying to buy property, you want the best of the best in your corner. Of course, every realtor claims they’re the best there is at what they do. However, all but one of them is lying about that, by process of elimination. So, how do you narrow down the field and find the best realtor in your area? By following our top tips, of course.

Finding a Great Realtor

Do Your Research

The first thing you’re going to want to do is research the field. See what people are saying about the realtors in your area, and who comes highly recommended. A great place to start in this field would be to talk to your family or coworkers. Who did they go with for their realtor, and how was the experience? Look up any name they give you and see what others are saying about that realtor. This will give you a good idea of what kind of job that person does.

While you’re doing your research, keep an eye out for any complaints against the realtor. You can usually look their name up at the city and see if they have their license, and if any complaints have been formally lodged against them. If they have such a complaint, then you can confidently dismiss the idea of working with them. The same goes if you can’t find evidence that they are properly licensed.

Buying or Selling?

If you’re buying a place, and you’re a first-time buyer, you’re going to need a lot of guidance. As such, you’ll want a buying agent who is calm, patient, and able to explain the process to you. This is someone who will guide you through tours of homes and help you understand what your budget means in relation to the home, and what maintenance the place might need.

A selling agent will help you understand what you need to do to make your home as attractive as possible to sell. This needs to be a person with a great eye for what sells quickly, and who can help to present your home in the best possible light.

Discuss Important Issues

During your research phase, you’ll want to make sure you figure out how much of a rate realtors in your area normally charge. What cut of the property sale, if any, will they be getting? Do they work for a firm that takes a cut, or are they working as contractors under their own employ? Figuring out how this person gets paid is an important first step, as you want to make sure you’re on the same page.

While having this discussion, make sure you also get a feel for this realtor’s style. Are they like you, do they share your buying or selling values? If there’s a personality incompatibility, the buying or selling process is going to be miserable, so you’re better off finding a realtor you’re a better match with.

Trusting the Agent

You need to make sure that this realtor is a person you can trust. You’re trusting them to facilitate a major purchase or sale for you, and you need to trust them to be an advocate for you. If you can’t trust them with important information, like your marital status and what your long-term plans for the property are, then this isn’t someone you need to be working with.

Make sure you’re getting an experienced agent. When you’re discussing things with this agent up-front, you don’t want to be their trial case. Unless this person has experience selling your type of property, you don’t want them overseeing things.

June 14, 2019
Top Tips for Selling Your Home like a Pro

It’s not easy to sell your home. However, there are a lot of steps you can take to make it easier to sell your home quickly, for the price you want, and in a way that won’t make you pull your hair out. Today we’re going to help you zero in on the top ways to make your home selling experience as smooth as possible.

Selling Your Home Like a Pro

Get a Good Realtor

Finding a good realtor to help you sell the property is step one. In some senses, it’s step zero, because a realtor has a lot of skills that will help you navigate the complexities of selling property. Think of it like this: you wouldn’t go to court without a lawyer, would you? So why would you try to sell property without a realtor? A good realtor is worth their weight in gold, taking a ton of the more complex aspects of the sale off of your plate and helping you make the right calls.

Do Your Research

Next, you’re going to want to do your research. Find out what homes in your area are selling for, and figure out if you have any special qualities with your home that could make it cost more. Do you have a garage, a pool, a big yard or a particularly excellent location? If so, you should factor that into the asking price.

When you set your asking price, make sure it’s realistic and in line with other homes in your area. Your realtor should be able to help you figure out what a good opening price would be, so you don’t make prospective buyers think you’re disconnected from reality.

Keeping Things Clean

Make sure your landscaping and interior are on point when people come to look at the home. You want to have well-sculpted grass, trimmed hedges and trees all in line. Make sure there are no weeds in the flower bed and that things outside the home just look nice, in general.

On that same note, clean the inside of your home. Get rid of clutter and sweep, vacuum, clean out the cat boxes and clean the kitchen and bathrooms. It’s important that prospective buyers get a great first impression from your home. If they see everything is shiny and well-maintained, they’ll trust you more as a seller than if things were overgrown, cluttered and dusty.

The Best Photos

When you take pictures for the online listing, make sure they are top quality. Your realtor can help you with this, but here are some basics. Firstly, make sure it’s a bright, sunny day when you’re taking photos of the house. Show off every room in the house from the best angles, making them look as big as possible and filling them with natural light.

Keep all the blinds open when taking these pictures. Make sure there’s no clutter or junk around and in the way when you’re taking the pictures. The same goes for outside: no overgrown yards, ugly weeds in the neighbor’s yard, or beaten-up old cars in the background of the pictures. Remember: the first impression is everything in real estate.

The Yard Sign

Don’t forget to put up the “for sale” sign in the yard! While online listings and your realtor’s help are important for selling your home, you shouldn’t overlook old-fashioned curb appeal. People could drive by, see the for-sale sign and your excellently manicured yard, and say “I want to buy that place!”

Then, ta-da, you’ve got a prospective buyer and you only had to put up a sign. That’s the very definition of good marketing!

May 30, 2019
How to Find the Best Realtor: Sell Your Home the Right Way

When it comes time to sell your home, you’re going to need the right realtor. You want to make sure you’ve got the right person in your corner to help you impress potential buyers, and to help you negotiate with sellers. In short, having a good realtor is like having a good lawyer. Things are just easier when the person on your side is good at their job!

Today we’re going over the top things you can do to find the right realtor to help you sell your home and make sure you get what you want for it. After all, cutting through the marketing hype and finding the real gems can be difficult, but you owe it to yourself to get the best!

Finding the Best Realtor

Do Some Research

Firstly, you’re going to want to do some research on a given realtor. When you see someone’s business card or flyer, don’t just buy their marketing hype. Look them up, ask around about them. Get in touch with their recent clients and see how they felt about the experience. Was the realtor professional, did they do their job well? Was the client happy with the sale, and the purchase of their new property? If you’re hearing lots of negative stories, it might be good to steer clear.

Another piece of research to engage in is looking into the realtor’s license and seeing if any disciplinary actions have been taken against them. Your state will have a registry of licensed realtors, and you’ll be able to see if the person is licensed and whether they have any disciplinary marks against them. If they do, you’ll know to avoid the untrustworthy realtor.

Look into Specialties

Not many people know this, but realtors have specialties and fields of focus, much like doctors and lawyers. When you’re looking into a realtor, find out what they specialize in. For instance, if you’re selling your home, you’ll likely want a realtor who is a CRS, a certified residential specialist. On the other hand, if you’re purchasing a property, you’ll likely want an ABR, an Accredited Buyer’s Representative, who has special education in representing buyers.

Another specialty to be aware of, if you’re over fifty, is the SRES, or Seniors Real Estate Specialist. This specialty means the realtor has completed additional education on representing buyers and sellers who are over fifty!

Current Listings

Check a realtor’s current listings online. Are they selling enough homes that it looks like they have a healthy business going? On the other hand, does it look like they have so many things on their plate that they might not be able to give you adequate attention? You want a realtor who is in that sweet spot right between the two extremes.

Likewise, when you speak to a realtor, mention nearby properties and discuss your area. If the realtor is well-informed about the area, that’s a good sign. If they can give you info on nearby properties, what has sold recently and how business is in the area, you’ve likely got a realtor with a good sense for their job. You want someone with an ear to ground on your side.

The Voice of Experience

When you first encounter a realtor, it’s a good idea to find out how long they’ve been in business. In the case of a newer realtor, such as someone who has only been in business for less than five years, you might want to go with someone else. A realtor who has started less than five years ago is still learning a lot, and you don’t want them learning and making rookie mistakes with your property.

May 29, 2019