The best Side of Homes for Sale in Brantford
The purchase of a home, for the vast majority of individuals, is the single biggest financial decision made in their lives. Clearly, then, it becomes evident that the selection of a real estate agent is a serious consideration which should not be taken lightly. But what factors should be considered in the selection of a real estate agent?
Reputation
Not all real estate agents are the same. Some real estate agents have a reputation for being difficult to work with. An agent that is pushy, argumentative, unprofessional, is late for appointments, or misses deadlines can frustrate the buying process. A real estate agent should have a reputation for getting along well with all parties to a transaction, buyers and sellers included. An agent that takes a lawyer-like approach of zealous advocacy for one side in a real estate transaction cause the other side to walk away from the deal. Communication and "people" skills are important, as well as diplomacy and tact in the event a difficult situation should arise. And clearly, honesty is tantamount.
Communication skills involve more than just communicating information - in fact, the primary test of effective communication skills is the ability to listen. An agent should listen to your needs, consider them, and then use that information to guide you to the neighborhood and home that is perfect for you.
Ascertaing the reputation of a real estate agent requires some detective work. It is wise to ask for references, on both sides of the transaction. Ask about problems that occurred during the process, and how they were handled. Talking to both buyers and sellers about their experience in dealing with a particular agent can provide insight as to how you can expect your real estate experience to unfold.
Geographical Area of Expertise
It is important as well to ensure you are dealing with a real estate agent who is a "local specialist". Many states technically allow licensed real estate agents to participate in real estate transactions anywhere within the state. However, a local specialist will be familiar with local selling practices. Property transfer taxes vary by locale, as do the party responsible for paying them. In some locations, there may be different customs for the division of city and county property transfer taxes. You want to be sure that you are dealing with an agent familiar in local custom so as to avoid paying unnecessary fees.
One idea is to canvass the neighborhoods in which you are considering buying. If you see lots of yard signs for a particular agent in those neighborhoods, it is a good bet that the agent is a local specialist.
A local specialist will also be able to provide you information on schools, recreation, synagogues and churches, shopping and entertainment options in the area.
How to Select a Real Estate Agent
Word of mouth is usually the best and most reliable source of information regarding any particular real estate agent. This type of information is reliable in that it has not been "spun" by the agent and the source of the information has no particular motivation one way or the other, except to relate his or her experiences.
Be sure to interview more than one agent. Prior to conducting an agent interview, make a list of items that are important to you. These items might include proximity to freeways or commuter rail lines, style of home, age of home, proximity to schools, local tax rates, or any other number of items which may or may not be "deal breakers" in your mind. Additionally, you may be interested to find out whether or not the real estate agent has support staff which will assist in the handling of various aspects of transactions. Additionally, making a list of these priorities will assist your agent in finding the perfect home for your family.
Ask the real estate agent you are considering for referrals to other real estate agents for you to interview. An agent that is secure in his or her quality of service and reputation will have no hesitation to provide you with the names of competing agents for you to consider. An agent that provides this information to you is likely an agent with whom you would want to do business.
Other factors to consider are whether or not real estate is the agent's full time career, the number of years of experience the real estate agent has, and any real estate designations possessed by the agent.
You're ready to start the home buying process - You've thought long and hard about this investment and decided it's the right move for you. But where to begin?
Working with a licensed real estate professional who has specific knowledge on your market is a very important starting point. And as you speak with various agents, you're going to learn that they ALL will claim to be professionals in your area. GREAT! That means you have choices; And we all like options, right?
But knowing the market is just one component of any good agent. There's more to consider when it comes to selecting the right real estate professional. Here's what I look for when folks ask me to refer them to an agent in their area:
1.) What special designations does the agent hold that demonstrates their ability to assist you? For example, if I was working with a military personnel client, I may look for an agent who carries the Certified Military Residential Specialist designation because I know they will have received additional training and education on the specific needs of military personnel, and have built relationships with lenders who have access to loan programs that directly benefit service members. In short, I consider the clients' specific needs and then try to find an agent qualified to serve their best interests.
2.) Does the agent have a network of industry-related support specialists available and ready to assist? Does the agent have the resources already established to provide access to information that will be pertinent to the purchase and sale process? Can the agent readily provide access to home, lending and community repair services that the client will benefit from? Working with an agent who has already created the framework for a smooth transaction process means you are in good hands and can trust the agent to be prepared to assist all the way through close of sale.
3.) Is the agent responsive to the consumer's needs? Do they communicate effectively with those around them? Do they give me real tangible answers to my questions? Or do they tell me what they think I may like to hear? When you're excited about buying a home, it's easy to only hear what you want. But a good agent will take the time to listen and make sure you've heard ALL of the information, bad or good. And then they take the time to help you sort out the bad information and develop solutions to get past any roadblocks in the path of your success!
4.) Can the agent provide reviews of their services from past clients? Does their past business support their ability to serve your best interests? Past clients' willingness to right good reviews about an agent is a direct correlation to that agent's ability to serve clients as a real estate professional. And this is great information to validate a possible agents' credibility.
5.) Does the agent have the time to commit to you? This is very important because different people require different levels of time commitment. If a buyer is looking for their first home, then I want to make sure I refer them to an agent who has the time to invest in getting that client up to speed on the purchase and sale process. This goes back, and ties in to, effective communication, because many first time buyers are going to ask the same question several times. And that's okay. We want you to ask questions. And I want to make sure the agent I team you up with has the commitment, energy and time to invest in getting you those answers; As well as taking the time to assure you understand what those answers get more info mean and how they may affect your position as a new home buyer.
It's very important to work with a committed real estate professional. Choosing the right agent for the job in the beginning means you will have an able and committed real estate professional to guide you through the entire process with confidence.
The National Association of Realtors ® reports that approximately 76% of home buyers interview only one agent for the job of helping them buy a home. That means you want to come prepared to ask the right questions, to assure you pick the right agent the first time. Working with the right real estate professional mean the difference between a smooth purchase process; Or one riddled with headaches, anxiety and the propensity to raise your blood pressure! Issues always come up in the purchase and sale process, but talented agents know what to do when problems arise. And they know how to keep clients in the loop and provide sensible solutions and clear explanations to keep your deal on track to close in a timely manner and on your terms.
One cornerstone of the real estate profession is the fact that "timeliness is of the essence." But this doesn't mean you need to be in a rush to hire the first real estate agent you interview. Make time to take time, before you start shopping for a home, to work with a real estate agent who can provide you with the knowledge, experience and network of resources that will assist you in achieving your goal of home ownership!
Ask the real estate agent you are considering for referrals to other real estate agents for you to interview. An agent that provides this information to you is likely an agent with whom you would want to do business.
Ask the real estate agent you are considering for referrals to other real estate agents for you to interview. Other factors to consider are whether or not real estate is the agent's full time career, the number of years of experience the real estate agent has, and any real estate designations possessed by the agent. Past clients' willingness to right good reviews about an agent is a direct correlation to that agent's ability to serve clients as a real estate professional.