Qualities to Look for in a Real Estate Agent

Are you considering buying a new home or selling the one you have now? 

Maybe you don’t know where to start when looking for a real estate agent. 

Or perhaps you have been working with a realtor for quite a while now and for some reason it just doesn’t seem like the perfect fit. 

Here are some considerations when selecting (or changing) realtors.

Good realtors COMMUNICATE. As a home buyer or seller, if you are working with a realtor that is not a great communicator, it can be very frustrating. You need an agent who will respond to your questions and concerns quickly because the real estate market is very time sensitive. You don’t want a realtor who is slow in responding as that could make you lose a great opportunity.

Good realtors LISTEN. Be wary of an agent that talks too much. They should spend more time listening to your questions, needs, and concerns. If you can’t get a word in when communicating with your realtor, this is a bad sign. You as the client should be doing most of the talking to make sure your realtor understands your specific needs.  A good realtor will be asking you many questions and giving you ample time to answer and elaborate on what exactly you are looking for in the real estate market.

Good realtors are PROACTIVE. An agent should be calling potential buyers, communicating with current clients, and always going after new leads. The most important aspects of being proactive are that a realtor needs to keep the client constantly informed and updated.

Good realtors ADAPT to the needs of their clients their timeframes. Agents work for their clients and should communicate in the ways preferred by their clients (phone vs. email for example). Realtors need to know what the client’s timeframe is – is he or she in a hurry to sell, or is there plenty of time to go through the process? If time is not of the essence, a good realtor can shop the market more thoroughly and advise the client to wait until the market is more lucrative.

Good realtors KNOW WHY their client is buying or selling. Understanding the motivation of the client is key to ensuring that the client gets what he or she is seeking. Is the real estate for an investment? Is the client looking for a fixer upper to flip? Is the client looking for the perfect family home? Understanding these motivations is critical to success for both the client and the realtor.

Good realtors are willing to give REFERENCES. Ask your realtor for references that you can contact about recent properties they have bought or sold. If a realtor is not willing to give that information, be wary, and ask them why they can’t provide that information to you.

Finally, good realtors are CLIENT MOTIVATED. They want what is best for their clients, not themselves. A good real estate agent has his or her client’s needs as the top priority in the process. Real estate can be stressful and a good realtor makes sure that the client is feeling supported throughout the process. The client’s success means the realtor has success as well. It’s a win-win.

These are just a few characteristics of a good realtor. If you are looking for a realtor, keep these tips in mind. Give me a call at 610-372-0212 and I can help you through the real estate process, whether you’re buying or selling.