In buying or selling a home, it’s important to work with the right real estate agent whom you can trust and feel comfortable with. With quite a few realtors serving the Vancouver area, how will you know who is the right one for you? Here are five things to consider:
- Are they local?
While the fundamental skills of real estate agents are similar from location to location, their knowledge of the local markets can greatly vary. When you hire someone who lives in or near the communityyou’re interested in, you’re getting the additional benefit of their intimate knowledge of the area. An agent who’s also a local expert will be highly familiar with the ins and outs of the market, including its specific nuances. That puts them in a great position to help you make well-informed decisions.
- Are they paying attention to your needs and preferences?
Real estate agents serve the role of simplifying the otherwise complicated processes of buying and selling a property. But one of the hallmarks of a good agent is that they actually listen to, address, and act upon your wants and needs. Rather than pitching homes to you based on single factors like price or size, they will do their best to find something as close to what you’re looking for as possible. An agent who doesn’t pay attention to what you saymay leave you feeling like you aren’t in control of the process.
- Do you get along?
Buying or selling a home can take some time, and you will likely be working with your real estate agent for several months – perhaps even years. For this reason, it’s very important to work with someone you can have a good working
relationship with. There must be ease of communication. Your agent should make you feel you can talk to them when you need to and that you’re always kept informed about things as they develop. If you dread having to talk to your agent for whatever reason, the process can feel like it is taking much longer than it actually has to. - If you’re interested in a property, is the agent finding ways to pitch you to the seller?
In an instance where multiple buyers are interested in a property, the ultimate winner isn’t always whoever makes the biggest offer. Emotion can play a big part in winning a bidding war. Your real estate agent should be able to find elements that can be used and presented to give you an advantage over the competition. Major life events, such as buying your first home, recently getting married, or having your first child, have ways that can connect with the seller and make you and your offer stand out.
- How many deals have they closed in the area?
Similar to the strengths of being local, the number of successful transactions they’ve completed in the area can serve as an indicator of a number of things, including familiarity with the neighborhood, their negotiating skills, and their own profile in the community, which can play in your favor. It can be argued that having successfully closed more deals is more important to the years of experience, but regardless of which statistic you feel is more important, don’t overlook the former.
As a real estate agent with over 35 years of experience, I can help you close the best possible deal in Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, and the surrounding communities. I’ll be happy to answer your questions about our team. Call me at 604-817-7338 or email botsoldmunro(at)gmail(dotted)com.