There are many things that are worth knowing about real estate agents. Whether you are interested in buying a home, selling your home, or becoming a real estate agent, there is definitely quite a bit of research that would benefit you to do. Of course, you should keep in mind that not all realtors do the same thing or specialize in the same area. Some will specialize in short sales, while some will work on more conventional cases, for example.
If you are interested in becoming a real estate agent yourself, you might wonder how you can apply to be a real estate agent. You might wonder about the process of becoming a listing agent. The truth is that in order to become a good real estate agent, there are many courses that you need to take. You should also remember that there is no substitute for experience when it comes to working in any business, particularly real estate. If you are simply looking for someone to work within the real estate industry, you might have questions as well. For example, if you are trying to sell your house, you might wonder, who is the best agent to sell your house? Regardless of your questions, the appropriate research should bring you the answers.
Finding a good real estate agent before you buy is one of the most important steps in getting the property you want. But choosing a real estate agent isn’t as simple as you might think; not only are there things that you do want in a real estate agent, there are some things you definitely don’t. Here are five red flags to watch out for when you’re figuring out how to hire a real estate agent:
- The Agent Does Real Estate Part TimeThere’s nothing inherently wrong with someone doing real estate on the side or part time. But if you’re looking to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars, you deserve to have someone who spends all their time watching the real estate market guiding you.
- The Agent Doesn’t Know Your NeighborhoodIt’s important you work with local real estate agents familiar with the precise area in which you’re looking to buy. Neighborhoods just a few miles apart may have vastly different markets.
- The Agent Doesn’t Deal With This Property TypeObviously, you don’t want a real estate agent who usually sells commercial space to businesses to be finding you a house. But you should be even more specific than that. Are you looking at investing in rental property, for example? That’s a very different proposition than buying a single-family home, even though they’re both living spaces.
- The Agent Doesn’t Work in Your Price Range
Make sure the real estate agent you’re working with knows your price range and respects it. That advice stands regardless of whether you’re looking at more modest properties or something extremely luxurious; you don’t want your real estate agent looking only at the lowest-priced properties if you’re willing to spend more on something swanky, and an agent who’s not used to working in that higher price bracket may not be effective in negotiating at that level. - The Agent Is a Relative or Close FriendIt’s best to keep business out of your personal relationships. Especially when you’re looking at making a significant investment, it’s a much better idea to make sure your relationship with your agent will be a professional one so that no feelings of obligation or resentment build.
Do you have any other dos or don’ts to share when it comes to finding a good real estate agent? Discuss in the comments.