The most compatible agent might work for a family business (or a Fortune-400 company), and might not be a local. The right Realtor for you knows how to work with the budget you establish and wants to work hard to find you the home of your dreams.
Each home buyer has individual needs. Some buyer clients are military. Some home buyers will only be happy with a move-in ready house. Some buyers want to be near the Metro. Just as purchasers have different needs, Realtors have different patience and skills.
Here are my words of advice for digging up the best choice of Realtor for you when you're purchasing in Fairfax Station:
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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.
- Interview several real estate professionals — The Realtor should have time to interface with you. If you pick the most popular real estate pro in Briarlynn Estates, you might find yourself working with a junior associate affiliated with that Realtor. You don't have to exhaust yourself chatting with agent after agent, but at least discuss with two or three to see who you're most comfortable with.
- It's important that you get along well with your Realtor. — You and your real estate professional might be spending a lot of time together. Professional expertise is an important criterion when choosing a licensed real estate adviser in Fairfax County.
- Ask the potential agent how they search for homes. — When picking a Realtor, ask how they search for homes. Some Realtors have their own preferred listings that they favor. But you want what’s ideal for you, not what’s most compatible for your Realtor. So make sure the Realtor is willing to search high and low to find the most compatible property for you. That includes using the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) as well as their own personal network.
- The devil is in the details. — The Commonwealth of Virginia requires all licensed agents to sign a representation agreement before showing properties or having material discussions about a specific house. 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 an attorney take a look at your representation agreement, but usually, that's not necessary. The document is pretty straightforward.
