What to Look For in a Realtor When Buying a Home
Today we’re talking about choosing a realtor! We think it's vital to have great representation when buying a home. Many people rely on HGTV and Google to tell them what they need to know about realtors. When choosing an agent for buying, you’re looking for a slightly different skill set than when an agent is selling your home. Don't worry, we'll do a separate blog on what to look for in a listing agent.
Today, we’re going to discuss some realtor myths and 10 things to look for when shopping for a realtor. Your realtor can make or break your home buying experience, so use our tips to make sure you choose wisely!
Realtor Myths
MYTH: It doesn't matter who your agent is, regardless, you're just going to figure this out, you're going to buy a house.
FACT: It absolutely matters. The right agent is going to be involved in every step of the transaction and likely far afterwards they’ll represent you. You have to be sure that you trust them and that they have your best interests in mind.
MYTH: It’s a sign of weakness when a realtor says, “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out for you.”
FACT: This happens all the time and the true test is how quickly they get back to you with answers and the resources they have access to to give you reliable information.
MYTH: The longer they’ve been a realtor the more experience they have, therefore they are the best choice!
FACT: Someone may have held a license for ten years and sold a couple of homes. On the other hand they could be an agent for a year and have had a ton of experience in that time!
10 Things to Look For When Choosing a Realtor
Experience. This is more than just how many years they’ve been in the business. How many homes have they sold? Do they know the local market? Do they have an eye for potential issues in a property? What do they specialize in the kind of property you’re looking for? Did they come recommended?
They know the local market. It would be a disservice to use someone that doesn’t have knowledge and connections within the area you’re looking to buy.
Accessibility and availability. You want something with the availability to get there quickly! If it takes an hour and a half get a showing lined up for you, that means they’re going to be less agile in their schedule to be able to accommodate that showing.
Find someone who specializes in the property type you’re in the market for. For example, that’s a ranch, condo, single family home, land, etc.
Trust and transparency. You want someone you can trust to manage and protect you during this huge financial investment. They should shoot you straight about what you can afford and the upfront/backend costs throughout the process.
Leadership. Your agent should be able to guide you through the whole process, the buying process from start to finish as a whole in entirety. A good agent absolutely knows the contract inside and out.
A good agent loves to negotiate. There are so many parts to the negotiation and the whole picture that are much more than just the dollar amount. They should want to win for you!
Being a great vendor connection resource. It’s important to find someone that has a network of people they trust and have a relationship with that they can refer you to: lenders, inspectors, general contractors, movers, etc.
In sync communication styles. You want someone responsive with a communication style you jive with. There is a lot of anxiety in the home-buying process and having good communication with your realtor will alleviate a lot of that.
They make you feel confident throughout the buying process. At the end of the day you want someone that’s a teammate in your investment.
“How Do I Find a Realtor?”
Well, you might be asking, “These are great questions to ask an agent, but how do I even find one in the first place?” Referrals are the best way to get connected with an agent. Ask your friends, ask your family, ask around on social media. It's a great way to get connected, but definitely make sure to meet with them and ask questions, because this can be an extremely personal fit and you want to make sure that your expectations are aligned in the process.
Now, maybe you've gotten referred to two different agents, how do you choose between one? Really take a look at who would be the best fit based on the tips above, meet with them in person, and see which one’s answers and energy feels the best to you. A great agent is going to then get you connected with a reputable local lender who's going to get you pre-approved. After that, they’re going to ask you to work with one at a time. You're going to sign an exclusive representation document, basically saying that they owe you their advice and opinions. It’ll also specify that their fees are covered by the seller. Buyer's agents are free to you in the state of Texas, which is great news!
Choose Your Realtor Wisely
At the end of the day, working exclusively with one excellent agent is going to yield the best results, as they're going to be your eyes and ears out in the marketplace and they're going to make sure that your needs get met. The steps are as follows: get an agent, get a lender, get pre-approved, and then you can go look at homes.
We hope this helps you choose the right realtor for you. We are passionate, as you can tell, about our role as agents and it would be an honor to help you or your loved ones buy a home. Find us on Instagram @Dallas.Haven if you have more questions about choosing the right agent! Head on over to WhereWeLivepodcast.com to continue the conversation in our Facebook group, listen to our podcast, and connect with us!
Until next time,
Brianna & Keelie