Buying or selling a house could be one of your biggest decisions in life. It could also be a make or break transaction depending on how your chosen real estate performs. That is why picking a good real estate agent should be taken into account before making any real estate negotiations so we don't end up having egg on our face and be deceived just before we know it.
Money US News suggests guidelines that we can adhere to should we want to settle for a safe real estate agent:
Conduct a background check
Everybody unknown to you is a stranger and that includes the real estate agent you have just met. So, never think that just because this agent is wearing an ID and claims to have represented a reputable real estate, he is already reliable. Conduct a personality check first and see whether this agent is licensed or not. There are real estate brokers who are not licensed nowadays and do successful negotiations with clients. Even so, this doesn't guarantee the same success in their transaction with you. Hence, it's better to make sure this agent you want to do things for you is chartered. Select the agent with the right credentials as Bankrate suggests. Conducting a personality check should be done firsthand and the results will guide your next steps.
"It's a longtime, intimate, trusting relationship. If it doesn't start out feeling good at the beginning, it's probably not going to get any better," Michael Soon Lee, a regional manager of Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie Real Estate based in Walnut Creek, California said.
Ask for recommendations from trustworthy people
In case you are having a hard time looking for a good real estate agent, do not put all the burdens on yourself. Why not ask for recommendations from your reliable friends, colleagues, or acquaintances? They can surely suggest agents they know personally and have already transacted with. Shortlist these agents highly recommended to you and try to meet them personally and listen to what they have to say.
Do some research
Everything can be searched at just one click so why not use the Internet to hire real estate agents? Read some online reviews about real estate firms and also specific real estate agents. See what their clients commented -- satisfied or dissatisfied. Some reviews do not share the whole story but the initial reviews written there can be your benchmark to finding the right one.
Searching for the right real estate agent is like looking for the right person to date. You need to know the person better first before you can build trust and start dealing with the person closely. The same way goes with real estate transactions. Select the agent with the right credentials as Bankrate suggests. If you get the wrong one, everything can mess up. But, if you deal with the right one, things can turn out the way you best want it to be.
