Tips for Hiring a Real Estate Agent

Few things in life can be quite as stress inducing as moving into a new home. First there is the lengthy process of locating and buying a new house and then selling the one you are currently living in. But this is quickly followed by the tedious process of packing everything up for the actual move, the fear of which might already have you looking for Salt Lake City movers. With so many factors to consider and so much at stake, hiring the right real estate agent is a crucial step in the right direction for anyone buying or selling a home. But what characteristics differentiate a real estate agent you can trust from the myriads of other realtors out there?

Interview Multiple Agents

If you are in a hurry to get into a new home, you may be tempted to jump the gun and hire the first real estate agent you come across. You may get lucky and find a winner right out of the gate, but the wise choice would be to search broadly in your area and then narrow down your options and interview at least three realtors. It might be that you feel uncomfortable asking questions of potential agents, but they are taking a commission off your sale so it is your responsibility to make sure they will represent you well. Be sure to ask them how long they have been in the business and how many homes they sold in the past year. Also, if you are selling ask the agents how closely the final sale price of the homes they sold aligned with the initial asking price. Don’t be afraid to ask for the contact information of some of their recent clients, as a good reference can go a long way in helping you determine the quality of the agent’s work.

Find Someone Who Knows the Neighborhood

Even if you have real estate agents you have worked with in the past, if they are not experts in the neighborhood you are planning on moving into then it is probably time to find someone new. During the interview process make sure the realtors you are considering have a strong knowledge of the area, and try to find an agent who actually lives there. A knowledgeable realtor can help you get a good lay of the land and may be able to offer you recommendations on local mortgage brokers, schools for your kids, or even some good Salt Lake City movers if you are going to need help getting settled in.

Research Credentials

Credentials and accolades are a big deal when it comes to buying and selling real estate. The letters that follow the names of your realtor indicate that they have taken some kind of additional training that allows them to specialize in certain types of transactions. For instance, ABR stands for Accredited Buyer’s Representative. If you are in the market to buy you should look for someone with this credential, as it means he or she has completed courses in representing buyers. You would also do well to pay attention to awards such as the “Realtor of the Year” award given out by the National Association of Realtors. This is a peer-given award, which means that other local agents think highly of this particular realtor.