Keys to Finding a Good Real Estate Agent

Whether buying or selling a home it is important to research and interview your potential agent to make sure you get someone who meets your expectations.



The following are a list of key questions to ask when looking for a real estate agent to sell your house.



What do you think my house can sell for in this market and why? This question is important because good realtors know the market and the price houses and property are selling for. They can show you sold and pending comparables to help you understand the sale value of your home. If the comparables indicate that your house should be listed for less than what you are willing to sell it for, it is probably not a good time to sell your house. In these cases, it is beneficial to hold onto your house and sell when the housing market is better if that is possible.



How do you intend to market my house? A real estate agent should do more to market your home than you could. Don’t just assume an agent plans to "go the extra mile" (for a complete list of marketing strategies you should expect from real estate agents click here.



Will you host open houses for my home? If so, how will you advertise for them and what is your average attendance at an open house? Open houses are great at facilitating a large number of people through your house. However, without proper advertising, they can be useless. Advertising can make the difference between 0 and up to 20+ people attending. By knowing how many people the agent generally attracts with their open houses, you can determine the effectiveness of their advertising.



The following are questions buyers should ask an agent.



Where can you find the best deals on this market? This question is important to understand the types of houses your agent is most familiar with. If they have dealt with REO, Short Sales, and other distressed homes, they will be able to give you info on that type of property and how they work. This is important if you are looking for a great deal and have the time and money to put into fixing a house up.



Once you put an offer in for your client and it is accepted what do you do? After your offer has been accepted, your realtor should call your lender, the title company, the other agent, etc. to make sure everything is on schedule until the house is closed. They need to work hard for you and be committed to helping throughout the entire process.



By researching real estate agents and asking him/her questions you have a much better chance of having a great buying or selling experience. If you are willing to do the work it takes to search out a great real estate agent, you will be greatly rewarded. Do your part by asking questions and doing the research to find a good agent, and they will do their part to help you buy or sell your house. Best of luck!