With so many real estate agents to choose from, it can be hard to
know who you should work with and most importantly who to trust. Its scary
because small mistakes can cost big, I mean huge! Im here to weed out the rest from the best!
Welcome to Keeping it Real Estate. Im your host Milana and Im here
to share my over 20 years of experience and expertise with you.
As Real Estate booms it attracts floods of agents into the low
barrier to entry space all posing to be the best agent. During times of
recession, the industry clears out and the remaining stand true and strong. That
being said, if you’re not waiting for a recession to help you see who can stand
the test of time, how do you know me from anyone else or the best from the
rest. So here is what I consider to be the most important 7 attributes that
make a great real estate agent…
1.
Choose an agent that can speak from experience…
Why would you work with someone who hasn’t invested in real estate for themselves?
You want to work with someone that owns property, that’s been through the
process, that’s got their feet wet in investments, lending, renovation etc. so
they can share their hands-on knowledge and experience and if they practice what
they preach then they believe in what their doing .
2.
Choose an agent that Demonstrates Honesty,
Transparency and Integrity- The #1 foundation of your relationship with your
realtor must be TRUST. You need to trust that this person will have your best
interests in mind, not theirs. And if your agent is dishonest with you or
exaggerates to appease you, this can prevent you from making effective
decisions
3.
Choose an agent that’s a Problem Solver-
problem solvers sell listings, they help buyers resolve the objections to
buying a home. Problem solvers help buyers compromise and see how a home could
check more of their boxes than meets the eye. Problem solvers get deals closed
when issues arise that jeopardize a ratified contract. Problem solvers see any
challenge as another opportunity to succeed, and that’s exactly what you want!
4.
Choose an agent that Listens to you and can
help you prioritize your needs- there’s no one size fits all solution to real
estate. The right agent will listen to everything you need and want and then guide
you based on what you said and what the market has to offer towards properties.
Because there is no perfect property you will have to compromise- anyone that
tells you different is lying. This requires guiding you through a prioritization
of your needs based on what you can get for the money you want to spend. Not
being proactive will result in no success.
5.
Choose an agent that Understands the Real
Estate Market- I don’t just mean sending you listings and printing stats… I
mean they have boots on the ground, they are in it deep and understand the
intricacies in what’s driving the market and resulting in the prices its
getting, they understand who the buyers are and why the sellers are selling. They
get Why are some properties sitting and others flying off the shelf. You want
someone who’s in the know and has a great relationships with other agents
within your local real estate market because someone whos good has a good
reputation.
6.
Choose an agent that responds quickly and is
easy to communicate with… real estate is emotional and even if its for
investment there’s a lot of money at stake so being there to calm anxieties,
answer questions and address problems is essential. Timing is essential. Choose
someone who’s willing to be readily available for your needs.
7.
Choose an agent that’s willing to walk away
from any deal… Heres the thing, the power in the negotiation is the ability to
walk away, the skill is not having to. Most negotiation takes place behind
closed doors or on telephone calls. You need someone that has your back, not
someone that’s thinking about their commission to negotiate on your behalf.
Also you need someone with experience that has worked within the network of
agents and understands negotiation strategies and process to guide you to a
win. Who you work with matters
To sum it up, you want to work with someone that demonstrates
experience, expertise and a network in everything to do with real estate. And
remember, you’re basically married to this agent through an escrow so pick
someone you trust and have fun with.
