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Eight things to look for in a real estate agent

Matthew Griffin • Sep 17, 2019
Selling a home can be one of the most difficult, emotional, and important moments in our lives. The agent you choose can have a huge impact on not only the price you achieve, but the experience you have. As an experienced real estate agent, I've learned how to make the process of selling as painless and stress-free (as possible). Here, I will highlight eight important things you should look for in a real estate agent.

1. Honesty
They say honesty is the best policy and this is certainly the case when it comes to real estate. Knowing you have an agent who will share not only the good news, but also keep you informed of any bad news is a sign of a responsible agent. An agent who provides you with all of the information available allows you as the property seller to make the most informed and well-advised decision on your property. Any withheld information within the selling process can be detrimental to the price your property sells for. When hiring a real estate agent, confirm your agent is an honest person and is aware of the importance of complete transparency when selling your home.

2. Interview At Least Three Agents
At Sparrow Real Estate, we highly recommend that you interview at least three different real estate agents. When doing this, you should also research every agent and read testimonials and reviews by their former clients. If they don't have any reviews then this could also be seen as a noteworthy sign. Sometimes, the best agent for you will stand out instantly, other times they may all stand out and it will be a difficult decision. Either way, it is important that you trust your instincts and choose an agent that you feel comfortable with. As with any interview situation, you're not just looking for skills and experience, you're looking for someone who you can work with.

3. Understanding And Patience
As I said earlier in this post, selling a home can be an incredibly stressful time and it is important that you choose someone who will approach the task with this in mind. You should choose an agent that will be understanding of your worries, concerns, and unique requirements while also approaching selling your home with patience. You may achieve a sale quickly or it could take a little bit more time to find the right buyer. A great real estate agent understands this and will be able to help you make the most informed decision about when and when not to accept an offer.

4. Well-Presented But Not Too Flashy
As with most professionals, it is vital that your agent presents themselves well. It shows that they take their profession seriously and that they care about how they are perceived. That being said, there is a fine line between someone who is well-presented and compassionate, and someone who is flashy and only out for themselves. If it feels too good to be true, then it probably is.

5. Down To Earth
When selling your home, you should choose someone who is down to earth and easy to connect with. This will make the whole experience far easier and far less painful than it could be with someone who you cannot relate to.

6. Reliable
Reliability is another one of the most important virtues in a real estate agent. No one wants a real estate agent who is not there for you when you need them. An unreliable real estate agent will only add to your stress and worry during an already difficult and momentous time, so it is vital that you choose an estate agent who will be there for you.

7. Able To Communicate Risks And Benefits
Not only is it important that your real estate agent be honest, reliable, and understanding when selling your home, it is vital that your agent can use these traits to effectively communicate any risks or benefits you may be in line to receive should you follow through with any aspect of the sale process.  This requires that your agent not only carries out proper research, but that they can also communicate those risks and benefits in a manner that allows you to be comfortable moving forward. Not everyone is well versed in real estate language and this can be even more difficult to follow with the stress of selling your home, so it is vital that your agent understands this and communicates any potentialities to you
effectively. 

8. Well Researched And Proper Market Analysis
It goes without saying that your agent should be doing their homework when it comes to pricing your home. They are the experts, right? It happens all too often where real estate agents are not conducting the appropriate research and providing vendors with actual comparable sales. A well-researched agent will provide you with a report, sit down with you, go through each property on an individual basis and provide you with an appropriate comparison with each property on the report. This should be discussed together so you can make the most informed decision moving forward with pricing your home appropriately.

I have vast experience in the real estate business and know that it is not just about selling or buying houses - real estate agents must interact with people during an important moment in their life. It is important, then, that your agent will offer a personalised service aimed at making this experience as painless and stress free as possible. 

Each real estate agent will have different strengths and weaknesses that could benefit you more-or-less depending on your situation. You cannot be too careful when choosing a real estate agent. Want to read more how I do things at Sparrow? Head over to the Agent Q/A post.
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