5 Tips on How to Choose A Realtor

Before you look for a real estate agent, you’ll have to keep in mind that each agent or broker has their own area of expertise. Some brokers have extensive experience in a certain area of your city. Yjey know the builders and what to look for in certain homes.  To best find an agent that fits your needs, you need to know what those needs are. For example, are you looking to buy a house or a condo? What city(s) or neighbourhood(s) do you have in mind? What’s your estimated budget? ? If you’re looking specifically for someone to represent you when buying a house, you can always look for an agent who has specific credentials.

Some agents also specialize in a property type, neighbourhood or budgets, so depending on the kind of home you’re looking for you’ll want to find someone who is knowledgeable with homes that fit the criteria you’re looking for. For example, an agent who specializes in Winnipeg  condo living might not be your best bet if you’re looking for a single-family detached home in River Heights. Dan has extensive knowlege in many neighbourhoods an can be a valuable asset in your corner as a buyer. 

Finding a real estate agent in this day and age isn’t as limited as it used to be. As real estate transactions become more digitized, so does the ability to find real estate agents in your area. 

Here are some options to consider when looking for real estate agents.

Referrals

Asking friends and family for referrals makes it easier to find someone who is more reliable and has a successful track record of working with people you know. 

Online real estate brokerages 

Another option when searching for an agent is through online real estate brokerages. With this, you’ll have the trust of agency reputation and a greater selection of agent expertise to choose from with notable track records. 

Honestly, you already found us here, so feel free to reach out to one of our agents here.

Local media

As you become more serious about buying a home, you may start reading more articles in news websites or magazines. Agents who are quoted in those stories by journalists, could be potential options to explore for your search for an agent.

Signs

When an agent is hosting an open house, you’ll often see signs pop-up in the surrounding neighbourhood with directions to the viewing. These signs often have contact information on them and if you’re interested or have exhausted your other options – it doesn’t hurt to reach out!

Along with online real estate brokerages who can introduce you to realtors, most agents will have some kind of online portfolio that you are able to view comfortably from  your home. Find out as much information as you can about their experience as a real estate agent and their experience in representing someone similar to your needs. Use Google, Facebook or even ask their clients for a reference. 

Before making a commitment to an agent, don’t be afraid to ask more questions about their experience and knowledge. Not only will it help you gage their expertise, but it can also give you a sense of their character and what it would be like to work with them. You should Interview at least a couple agents before making your decision, but please do consider Dan as one of them.

Here are some questions we’d recommend asking :

How well do you know this city or neighbourhood?

Real estate is a local business, so work with someone who knows the trends, schools, parks, and zoning of that neighbourhood.

How much of your business comes from referrals?

Satisfied homebuyers often recommend their agent, so this is a measure of service quality.

Are you a full-time agent in the business and how many years have you been full-time?

A full-time agent will have better knowledge of market trends and more negotiation experience, due to having more experience.

How many homes have you helped sell or purchase in the past year?

A track record of success is good news for your future purchase, but don't be too focussed on that .  Larger borkerages will have many aganets and many transactions. Many byers prefer a smaller brokerage where the broker is more tuned in and focused on the buyers needs. 

What are your expectations of you as a client?

Each agent will have different methods of working, and to be successful as a client, you’ll need to know what your potential agent is expecting from you. This could be anything from communication to time commitment.  If you work with your agent it will be a positive experence for all parties. 

A real estate agant that genuinely has your best interests in mind will be honest with you when it comes to the risks involved with your buying or selling decisions. If yoir agent agrees with everything you say he/she may not be completely honest. Rather than an agent who agrees with everything you say, you want a realtor that will tell you honestly when they think that something is a bad idea. 

Pay attention while interviewing candidates to see if they’re using data or references to backup their claims. In addition the agent should be open to sharing examples of homes they’ve helped past clients buy or sell, or to sharing references for past clients they’ve worked with for you to contact.

Thi is potentially the biggest purchase decision of your life and communication is key, if you want a smooth and successful experience.  Different people have different communication preferences. Tell your agent how you prefer to communicate and find an agreement on how best to communicate going forward.  So agents will respond 24/7 others may not respond after 6 pm and on weekends.  

Since you’ll be spending a lot of time during your house hunting journey with your agent, you need someone you’re comfortable sharing concerns with,answers your questions with patience and who is open to sharing their knowledge with you. There will be a lot of back and forth communication throughout the home buying process and ultimately you need someone you think you can get along with – trust your sense of character. 

Here are some questions to make note of:

In your initial communication, was the agent quick to reply?

Were they proactive about providing information?

Were they patient when answering your questions?

Can you see yourself working with them for a month or even a year?

Knowing how to choose an agent that fits your needs is an important part of a successful first step into what can be an exciting real estate journey.