3 Tips to Get The Best Service From a Realtor

1. Know Thyself and What Thy Wants

The better attuned and realistic you are to what your needs are the sooner the right house appears and the easier it will be for the Realtor to help you. It’s simple. Here are a few questions to defining your needs:

• Do you like low maintenance living or enjoy working weekends in the yard gardening? (Condo vs. Single Family question.)
• Do you like being outdoors, hiking, and closer to the beach so you don’t have a long commute on the weekends?
• In the next 3 to 5 years will your needs for space change? Downsizing for retirement or upgrading space for growing your family?

2. Do The Homework

How do you get the best Realtor and service? Identify the characteristics of the best! – an agent with a sense of urgency, an ethical professional who communicates effectively. It takes a team to buy a home and the best Brokers bring an all-star team of professionals to you – escrow, transaction management, lender, and home inspector recommendations. Interview and vet the candidates before you commit.

• Ask them for their resume, to describe work style, and client recommendations. Ask yourself, “Does this person communicate to me in a style that I can understand easily and trust?”
• Interview Mortgage Brokers, finding the right loan program takes a solution-focused mortgage professional who can advise you. It’s not all about the lowest rate; good service is a big factor in a successful transaction.
• Before you finalize your loan program, have your Realtor connect with the Mortgage Broker to make sure they can deliver Final Loan Approval within the timeline and property type.

3. Communicate & Trust

After the interviews are complete and selection made, knowing that you’ve done your part to identify the right person will give you confidence to move forward and trust. Now you are a team. Don’t hold back, share with your Realtor concerns, questions, timeline, and ultimate big picture vision. These insights will help your Realtor to focus on your priorities, better leverage your terms in the negotiations, and be the best advocate for your interests.

Buying houses is a skill, like learning a new language or riding a bike. It’s a muscle that will grow and get stronger every time you do it. And with the average American transacting in real estate every 7 years, it may be your first time but it won’t be your last. So why not develop your real estate muscle, learn as much as you can, so you get really good at this? Choose a Realtor who can be your teacher, build your knowledge, and support you along the journey.