Real estate is a popular avenue for investment. Many people go into real estate investing. Some people make real estate their main job. So you have real estate brokers, real estate investors, real estate lawyers and others who thrive primarily in the real estate industry. However, there are others who do not make real estate investing their career, but still want to invest in real estate (because it is an attractive avenue for investment). For such people, getting a good real estate agent can make a big difference between a good deal and a not-so-good deal.
So, how do you choose a good real estate agent?
The first thing to look for is a realtor’s reputation. A realtor with a good reputation will earn that reputation over time by helping buyers get the property of their choice (and according to their needs) while getting a good price for the property seller. In fact, experience is the second most important factor in finding a real estate agent. Bad real estate agents don’t last long (because bad news about anyone travels faster than good news). Therefore, experience is a good measure, because then you know the realtor hasn’t done something bad enough to drive them out of business. A good Realtor will not just act as a salesperson for the seller (the Realtor should receive a commission/fee from the seller when the deal materializes), but will also be mindful of the needs of the buyer. In addition, a good real estate agent will usually have a large number of properties available for sale at any given time. A good Realtor will typically have a small team of people working in an organized manner to get the deal done between the buyer and the seller (so that both parties are satisfied). A good Realtor will group properties in an easy to understand way, for example, grouping them by location, grouping them by price, grouping buyers by type of home, etc. A good Realtor will also advise the seller on minor repairs or things that can help them get a better price for their property. A good Realtor will patiently listen to the buyer’s requirements and point them to the property that best suits their requirements (rather than just showing them a list and asking them to choose one).
Checking with friends/family who have used a good realtor’s services before can sometimes help you find a good realtor fairly quickly.