How to Choose a Real Estate Agent
It doesn’t matter whether you are buying or selling a home — you are making a big, life-changing decision. Hiring a real estate agent is the best way to navigate the ever-changing climate of the housing market, but how do you choose an agent you can trust? What are the most important qualities they should possess?
Below, we have listed 5 traits to look for when choosing a real estate agent in Birmingham.
#1. Knowledge of the Market
First and foremost, they need to have a strong understanding of the current market. Before you choose an agent, quiz your prospects. Check their knowledge of the current local market conditions. Do they know the recent home sales from nearby neighborhoods? Do they know the number of rooms and the square footage of those homes, and how long they were on the market? These are all answers a good real estate agent in Birmingham should have.
(The new year has changed the market. Find out the new real estate trends.)
#2. Eager and Persistent
Choose a real estate agent that is eager to work with you and persistent on closing a deal. For sellers, pick someone who will show your home to as many prospective buyers as possible. For buyers, pick an agent that frequently comes to you with new homes to tour.
#3. Prompt with Communication
You must pick an agent that is quick with communication. The home selling/buying process can take a long time, but time is money. You can’t stretch the process out any longer than it already is by waiting around for your agent to return your calls. If they are not easily accessible, get rid of them!
#4. Honest
Honesty goes a long way in the real estate world. You need to pick a person who is not only willing to be upfront with you, but who can be honest with themselves, too.
Sellers will never be pleased if they have an agent who encourages their delusions. If sellers have an attachment to their home, they may think it is worth a lot more than it actually is. A good real estate agent will be frank by setting more realistic expectations.
Buyers (especially first-time buyers) who are looking for the perfect home will often pass up a fair offer on a good house with the hopes that a low offer on a fantasy mansion will work out. Choose a real estate agent that’s willing to keep your feet on the ground.
#5. Presentation and Personality
The way your real estate agent appears may seem like a superficial characteristic to consider, but it can make a difference. As a buyer or seller, you are putting your best face forward — shouldn’t your real estate agent?
Home buyers are nervous about making such a huge investment. When they speak to a calm, kind, and collected real estate agent, the idea of placing an offer can seem a lot less intimidating.
Sellers, too, can be persuaded to accept an offer based on the demeanor of a buyer’s real estate agent. It isn’t uncommon for sellers to choose the lower of two offers just because they believe the family and agent will take care of the home they are saying goodbye to.
ARC Realty: Real Estate Agents in Birmingham
Are you looking for a real estate agent in Birmingham? ARC Realty is proud to have a multitude of talent on our team. We’re sure we can find the perfect agent for you!
