Like many big decisions in life, it’s best to shop around and compare offerings and benefits. Finding a real estate agent is no different and it’s not uncommon to interview or speak with multiple agents before finding a good fit. Personality, working style and area of specialty are all important factors to consider when picking a real estate agent to help you buy or sell your house. Buying and selling a home can be a process so you want to make sure you find the best fit for you. To make sure you have the best possible fit for your needs and personality, here are some great questions to ask when you’re meeting with and interviewing a potential new agent:
How long have you been in practice?
While length of practice isn’t always the end-all-be-all, you want to make sure your agent has practical real-world experience so as to properly navigate your buying or selling process. Some real estate agents are also not full-time agents or haven’t been in practice recently which is important considering the fast-paced, high-selling market.
Do you have a specialty or area of focus?
Not every real estate agent has a specialty area of focus or housing type but if they do, that would be good to know. For example, I love golf and I love helping my clients to buy and sell homes located on golf course communities. I help my clients buy and sell multiple property types, but golf course communities are a niche market for me. I also primarily work in the Denver metro area, so if a client came to me seeking mountain or farming properties, I may give a referral to a trusted resource.
Do you have a good contact for (fill in the blank)?
Whether you are looking for a contractor to help you renovate a fixer-upper you’re about to close on or if you’re looking for a trusted mortgage broker, a good agent will have a contact for just about everything in the housing market. This is another reason length of career may be important because after a few years in practice, agents tend to collect contacts for trusted resources throughout the market so that they can refer their clients to these goods and services.
How often do you like to communicate?
A good agent will communicate with a client as often as necessary which is integral when putting in an offer on a home or accepting an offer on time. Whether you prefer a call or a text, you and your agent need to have an open line of communication. Having an agent who returns calls as quickly as possible is also needed.
Are you a REALTOR or a real estate agent?
There IS a difference between a real estate agent and a Realtor. The licensing requirements for these titles are different and the capabilities for each will vary. For example,I am a REALTOR® and a member of NAR (The National Association of REALTORs®) and I keep up with market trends and I have been through many changes in the market in the last two decades.
Can I see some reviews or referrals?
If it’s important to you, a good agent should be able to provide you with reviews or referrals from past clients. I personally have a reviews section on my website and also a few blogs about client stories. We live in a review-centric world where goods and services are constantly graded so a good agent knows this is an important part of the experience and should be able to provide it.
What is most important to you in a working relationship?
This could have many different answers but this question helps you to uncover the motivations an agent has in being in the field and what they value most about the relationship with their clients. For example, I love making a real connection with my clients and being able to advocate for them all the way through the process.
Would you like to set up an introductory meeting with me? Are you in the market to buy or sell your home? Call and text me at (720) 323-4176 or email me at [email protected]
