How to Find a Good Realtor

A Realtor is a person who ensures that you get a good deal when buying a house and works hard for you when trying to sell a house. This person is working on your behalf so you must have every confidence in him. Follow these steps to learn how to find a good Realtor.

Instructions

1. Ask around. One of the best ways to find a good Realtor is to ask your family and friends for a referral. By using someone that was successful for them, you know that you will most likely be satisfied.

2. Meet with a Realtor first before deciding to use him. Make certain that you get a good feel for him and that you will definitely feel comfortable using him. You will be spending a lot of time with this person when either buying or selling a house so finding a personality that you like is critical for a successful relationship. Ask how he markets a home for sale and how he finds listings for buyers.

3. Track sales in your neighborhood or immediate area. There are some Realtors who specialize in certain areas or neighborhoods. Make a note of when a particular house is listed for sale and when the house is sold. This is an excellent indicator of how that agent will approach marketing or selling your house. It is also helpful to have this agent if you are looking to buy a house in a certain neighborhood that this Realtor works in. He tends to know the most about the neighborhood.

4. Attend some open houses. The best way to meet a successful agent is when he is doing something for another client. This is also how you can get an idea of how he works. See how active the agent is during an open house and how hard he works to sell the house. Is he knowledgeable about the property? If he has done his homework, then this is an agent that you should consider.

5. Check references. Make sure that the person works where he says he does. You can check with your local board of Realtors to see if any complaints have been filed against this person. If this is someone that you just met, ask for contact information from a few of his clients to call.

6. Request a referral. If you have not been able to find a Realtor from the previous steps, then you can call a local Realtors office and ask for an agent to be referred to you. This can also be done online on various websites.

Tips & Warnings

• Write down any questions that you have for the Realtor beforehand and have them with you on a notepad. You can then write down the answers given to you. Compare these with the questions and answers given by any other Realtor that you have interviewed so that you can pick the one the best suits your needs.

• Being a Realtor is a little different from being a real estate agent. A Realtor must abide by a strictly enforced code of ethics. So make certain that the person helping you to buy or sell your house has the Realtor logo on his business card.

• If you are ever uncomfortable or find out that you do not like your agent, then find someone else immediately.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Resource Articles about Realtors