Whether you’re planning on selling your South Carolina home or are in the market for buying a new one, the professionals you choose to work with can aid in making the process smooth or disastrous. Buying or selling a home is stressful by nature, although the right assistants can help minimize stress and make the transaction a pleasantly memorable experience. Not every real estate agent is a good fit for a specific seller or buyer.
When seeking professional help to buy or sell a home, it’s imperative that you interview a real estate agent rather than simply hiring someone without any knowledge of background, experience, style, etc. There are several questions you can ask to determine whether a particular agency is a good fit for your needs and real estate goals.
Pay close attention to how a real estate agent answers these questions
Successful real estate agents don’t merely forge temporary connections with clients; they build lasting relationships. A good agent is not only thinking of immediate potential but future opportunities, as well. These questions can help you ensure you’re signing on with an agency that will meet your needs:
- Does the real estate agent prefer to communicate in a way that suits your preference, be it text messaging, email or phone calls?
- What is the client/agent ratio at the agency, meaning how many clients does an individual agent typically serve at one time?
- Does the agent have a solid network of local resources to help expedite your transaction, such as lenders, inspectors, surveyors, etc.?
- How familiar is the agent with the area in which you hope to buy or sell a home?
It’s a major plus if you can find a real estate agent who lives and works in the community where you are buying or selling a home. If the agent doesn’t live nearby, he or she should at least have a comprehensive knowledge of local history and the amenities the area has to offer.
A good agent knows how to adapt to meet your needs
If you feel like the real estate agent you’re considering for hire is not a good listener or is trying to take too much control over the process (instead of letting you state your goals and needs, then working to fulfill them), you might want to continue your search. By asking pertinent questions during the initial meeting, you can find an agent who not only helps you accomplish your goals but does so in a timely, economically feasible and low-stress manner.