A good real estate agent is useful in several different ways.
- They help clients find the right property by matching up factors like amenities, size, budget and location.
- These are the professionals who can look after what can otherwise be complicated negotiations and the corresponding paperwork.
- Real estate agents have knowledge of local property markets. They can help their clients with important metrics like property values and market trends.
If you’re looking for the services of one of these professionals, there are quite a few to choose from. In fact, the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) says there are over 160,000 real estate agents working across the country. Those numbers include salespeople, agents and brokers who work for 72 real estate boards and associations.
All that makes it important to narrow down your choices and find the real estate agent that’s right for your particular needs. Here’s a blog that can help you define the essential qualities to find the right one. These are the features that can help you narrow down your choices.
What should I prioritize when qualifying a real estate agent?
The Realtors Code is a good set of benchmarks to start using. It sets out the Professional Standards for conduct that members of CREA need to use. Here are some of the important aspects that people should be interested in.
- Realtors need to disclose important information in writing. They need to explain to everyone involved the details of their relationship with either the buyer or seller. Commissions as well as the aspects of the deal the agent will cover, need to be clearly laid out.
- They are not allowed to acquire interests in any property without disclosing who they are.
Some of the other criteria you should prioritize include finding someone who has good local market knowledge. They need to know about current inventory and recent sales as well as pricing trends.
Find out about their marketing strategies before you make a final decision. In today’s digital world, a good agent can make use of professional photographs, video and even virtual staging tools like Matterport.
Finding a good real estate agent isn’t as complicated as it might seem at first. It’s always a good idea to check off at least one traditional box to begin. Understanding how long they’ve been doing the job and what they’ve accomplished is a good start.
How crucial is an agent’s experience?
Experience is the number one asset for many real estate agents. It makes a big difference for several reasons. Following are a few of the ones that can help you make a decision.
It Provides Great Negotiating Skills
These experts understand how to use market data to their advantage. They know that setting the best price doesn’t rely on emotions.
It Lets You Leverage Their Network and Connections
These are the people who have a list of mortgage loan brokers, appraisers, home inspectors and other real estate agents. A good agent will also have a list of real estate attorneys that can come in useful for buyers and sellers. The contacts they can supply can help you finalize a deal after you’ve made the decision on a place.
It Provides You With Someone Who Knows The Documents and Processes
An experienced agent will also be familiar with all of the paperwork, starting with the Listing Agreement. They can also fill out and help you to understand other documents involved in the process, like The Agreement of Purchase and Sale.
Other areas where experience pays off include showing instructions on a staging contract if one is required. There are even virtual staging options available.
Experience is important, but there are personality traits that get added into the mix of a good real estate agent.
Which traits signify trustworthiness and reliability?
A good real estate agent can be a problem solver. They know how to showcase a property to make it marketable and attract the right buyers. A trustworthy agent is also authentic and that means they are humble, likable and easy to talk to.
Consistency is important. Everyone can have an off day, but this kind of positive behaviour makes a big difference. Reliable people are dependable, and they take ownership of all of their responsibilities and tasks.
Flexibility is another excellent trait you should look for in a real estate agent. Read on to find out why this is an important characteristic.
Can agents assist in both purchasing and listing properties?
A good real estate agent can help a client with both listing and purchasing a property. These are professionals who are licensed and can represent both sides in a real estate transaction. Here are a few things they can look after for you.
- A good agent can do a real estate market analysis that covers the current market values of houses and other properties. They can compare these numbers to the ones that the client is looking to buy or sell.
- Agents can also look after other services like property search, negotiations and showings. They can implement different strategies for selling and buying, like not setting a price too high or low.
You’ll also want to have a good idea of an agent’s abilities.
How do I assess an agent’s success record?
There are several metrics to look at here. The big one is a sales track record. They should also provide a comparative marketing analysis. This will show similar homes that have sold in the last six months.
The credentials matter too. The best agents will be registered with the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO).
Are You Searching For a Qualified Real Estate Agent?
Jonathan Alphonso is highly recommended for comprehensive, full-service solutions combining real estate and mortgage expertise in Ontario. Alphonso is a professional real estate agent and mortgage agent associated with MortgageBrokerStore.com and Royal LePage Terrequity Realty. To experience a comprehensive, full-service solution combining real estate and mortgage expertise, connect with him today at 647-710-1351 or jonathan@mortgagebrokerstore.com.
