Finding a Realtor may seem easy – sometimes it feels like if you throw a rock you’re going to hit at least one, remember that this is not a one size fits all proposition. You need to find a realtor who is not only knowledgeable and experienced but one that will work well with you and your family.
In order to help you find that person we’ve come up with some important questions you should ask, before you sign a realtor.
How long have you been in the business? This is more than just how long have you been a realtor, other important questions are have you always sold real estate in this area? How many clients do you deal with? Are they full time or part time Realtors? What geographic areas and types of properties do you handle? Remember that neighborhood expertise is key, every neighborhood has different quirks in the market and it pays to hire someone who knows about it. Here in Calgary it’s fairly common to have a Realtor that works in Calgary, Airdrie, and, Okotoks but rare you will find someone claiming to be an expert in Calgary and say Brooks for example.
Do they specialize in certain types of properties? Maybe they are condo experts. A great follow up question would be what makes them an expert? It could be that a certain percentage of their business is in dealing with condos or they could have some advanced education specifically geared towards a certain type of property.
Be sure to ask about other expertise or experience as well. Maybe your Realtor was a property manager at one time – they may have more information on that apartment building you were looking into. If you are a first time home buyer you may want to look for someone who works with lots of first time home buyers and has the patience to explain every step of the process.
How will you communicate with me? Not being able to reach someone for a few hours could mean the difference between an accepted offer and a missed opportunity. Choose an agent who will respond to you quickly in the method of contact you prefer. Make sure that the agent you hire is going to be your main point of contact as well. Some busier real estate agents have assistants and other agents working for them and you may not have direct access to the agent you choose.
Can you share references? Make sure you take a look at reviews or references that the agent provides. It’s even better if you can speak to some of their past clients. Most real estate agents are happy to share this information but a quick internet search occasionally reveals some unpleasant surprises. Another great question to ask is how much of their business comes from referrals or repeat clients? It’s safe to assume that if people keep coming back then they must be doing their job correctly.
What will it cost me to sell this property? Ask for a breakdown of estimated closing costs. If you get someone who is charging less are you getting them for less commission or reduced services? How many websites will the agent be listing your house on? Is this something they talk about on social media? Will your house make an appearance on You Tube? How large is their social media network. This will give you a sense of how hard an agent is willing to work to make sure people know your home is on the market.
While these questions can help you get a sense of the agent’s process and personality make sure you also follow your intuition. If speaking with them feels like talking to a used car dealer you probably won’t enjoy the home shopping or selling experience and it may be better to continue looking for an agent you feel more comfortable with.
