The right real estate agent might not have a brand new car, and is not always the one with the most sales under his or her belt. The right real estate professional is not afraid to tell you the truth (even when you don't want to hear it), and gets how to work with the budget you establish.
Different property hunters are facing different challenges. Some home buyers want a big lawn. Some home shoppers want to be near the Metro. Some purchasers want storage space. In the same way that every home hunter shopping in
is different, real estate pros have different experiences and specialties.
Here's some best practices for picking the right real estate professional for you when you're purchasing a home like :
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- Check out licensed real estate adviser referrals. — I like Angie’s List because I know that Angie’s List voice verifies each review. You can also see if the agent or brokerage has any awards for client satisfaction.
- Speak with a few real estate pros — The Realtor you choose should be able to clearly understand your needs. The agent should have time to chat to you. If you pick the most popular real estate pro in Woodbridge, you might find yourself working with a junior associate affiliated with that Realtor.
- It's important that you have a good feeling when speaking to your Realtor. — Interpersonal skills are as important as professional skills. We all have unique personalities, and that's the way it should be. But when working with someone professionally, if helps if their personality “meshes” well with your own.
- Find out how they seek. — When selecting a licensed real estate adviser, ask how they search for homes. Some real estate professionals have their own preferred listings that they favor. But you want what’s best for you, not what’s perfect for your Realtor. So make sure the agent is willing to search high and low to find the right home for you. That includes using the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) as well as their own personal network.
- Find out more about your representation agreement. — The Commonwealth of Virginia requires all licensed agents to sign a representation agreement before showing properties or having material discussions about a specific townhouse. Be very wary of any agent that is not concerned about getting a representation agreement signed. This advice is heavily used for a reason. It doesn't hurt to have a lawyer take a look at your representation agreement, but usually that's not necessary. The document is pretty straight forward.
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