When it comes to choosing the right real estate agent for your house hunt, there are many things to consider to find your perfect fit. First, it’s important to make sure they cover all of the areas you are interested in, or you may miss out on a great find outside of their neighborhood scope.
It’s also a good idea to read reviews online. While looking through the reviews, keep an eye out for keywords like “transparent,” “honest,” and “communicative.” Making sure that you have a transparent agency can help you understand each step in the buying process better. Learning about down payments, closing costs, inspections, and more from your agent can help you save money in the long run.
After you read reviews and decide on the agency you’d like to use, call and set up an in-person meeting with their agents. While there, don’t forget to ask these four questions from The Degnan Group when choosing your real estate agent. They are designed to help you understand your prospective agent’s experience, interest in the business, problem-solving techniques, and personality traits to make sure you get a perfect fit.
1. How long have you been in business?
This question is important because it will highlight how much experience they have in the field. An agent with more experience will be more likely to know about listings right as they go on the market, or have a few tips and tricks up their sleeve to get a better price for you. They also are very familiar with the closing process, so they’ll be able to make sure all the steps go smoothly and quickly.
Between our agents here at The Degnan Group at Key Realty, we have over 150 years of combined experience. This ensures you are getting only the best services when you buy or sell a home with us!
2. Why do you love real estate?
Ask your prospective agent why they love real estate, and watch closely when they answer. Is it a totally canned and passionless answer? Or do their eyes light up when they talk about the joys of helping families find their perfect homes?
Choose an agent who is excited about their job, and interested in the real estate market. This person is much more likely to spend extra time looking for exactly what you want, instead of showing the first five houses on their list and convincing you to settle.
This passion and interest can also be very helpful in your house hunt because an excited agent is a knowledgeable agent. They may be able to tell you about different and unique options on the market and their pros and cons, and you may even find out that what you thought you wanted in a house wasn’t what you actually needed all along.
3. What has been your most challenging client?
Challenging clients have high needs and even higher expectations. Asking your potential real estate agent about this will open up insight into their problem-solving techniques. When they discuss the challenge from their client, do they explain how they went above and beyond to find the perfect home for them, or did they complain about the inconvenience, or even worse, pass them off to a different agent?
This may seem like a simple question, but it will tell you a lot about how your agent will react to unexpected issues during your buying and closing process. Make sure you choose one who can take it all in stride, rather than tensing up and losing their cool at the first sign of trouble.
4. Ask them about themselves
Sure, getting to know your real estate agent is nice, but this question also has a second purpose as well. Asking your agent about themselves helps you learn more about them and their personality. You are going to be spending hours together during your house hunt, so it’s important to choose someone who is friendly and communicative that you will enjoy spending time with. The buying and closing process can be stressful at times, so choose an agent that can walk you through it clearly and keep you calm and relaxed from start to finish.
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Are you about to start the search for a new home? The process isn’t easy, and making sure you have a competent agent by your side will make all the difference in keeping it exciting instead of stressful. First, choose the neighborhoods you’d like to look at and read reviews of the agencies carefully. Finally, when you are meeting with real estate agents, make sure you ask these four important questions from The Degnan Group to learn about their experience, interest in the business, problem-solving techniques, and personality traits, and make sure it’s a perfect fit for your home buying experience!
Remember, if you’re looking to buy or sell a home in the greater Toledo area, The Degnan Group at Key Realty is comprised of a team of local real estate professionals committed to selling some of the most desired homes in Toledo, OH. Give us a call at (419) 345-7808.