Whether you’re buying or selling a property, choosing to use a realtor can be one of the best decisions you make. Not only do you get expert advice and guidance on market trends, offers, and other exciting topics, you get to relax while someone else takes the reigns with the tough work involved in the legal process of real estate.
Picking the right realtor, however, especially in a competitive market like Kingston, can be a pretty difficult decision. When you’re not sure what qualities and skills to look for, you may be tempted to go with the first realtor you find on Google, the broker on the nearest ‘for sale’ sign, or with the cousin of a friend’s friend who does it “on the side” and for who you’d be doing a big favour. Sound familiar?
Here are a few questions to as yourself before signing anything with a new realtor:
Are they dedicated to what they do?
Is real estate something he does full-time? Is it only something she does for friends and family but works a full-time job that takes up most of her days?
Answering these questions is going to be important when, down the road, you’re trying to get ahold of your agent and it takes them hours to get back to you. Do you only want to communicate or have your realtor work on your file in the evenings? How will that even work when mortgage agents and lawyers who only work during the day get involved?
You want an agent that will answer your calls and advocate for you, not only for themselves.
How many years do they have in the field?
We’ve all taken pretty well the same training to get our real estate licence. The kicker is that some people have a natural talent for buying and selling homes, and some just don’t. Whether or not an agent has been at it for years or they’re new to the field, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll be better at what they do – or will sell your house quicker. It’s about talent, dedication, and the motivation to succeed in their chosen career path.
Sometimes veteran agents lose their spark and reason for why they used to love real estate. Sometimes someone fresh from the classroom can’t wait to prove themselves to the community, has a fresh eye on new trends, and can market themselves effectively on social media.
Do they drive a nice car?
Now, this was a trick question to see if you were still reading.
Please don’t go with a realtor just because they drive a new Mercedes. There used to be a common misconception that the best realtors drove the fanciest cars because if they can afford a nice car they must be the best at getting commissions from houses sold.
You know what? Maybe an agent is frugal with their money! Maybe they love the reliability of an old Volkswagen. You should base your decision on an agent’s dedication and reviews and less so on how they get around.
Interested in starting a conversation to see if we might be the right real estate agents for your upcoming purchase or sale? Reach out today.