I want to hire a Realtor® to sell or buy (or both!)…where do I find one?
Your relationship with your Realtor® is extremely important and you WILL get to know each other very well just from the amount of time you spend communicating with them. Not only is it important that you find a Realtor® who is experienced and knowledgeable in your area, but it is also important that you hire someone who you TRUST and you that you “click” with.
According to the National Association of Realtors®, there are about 2 million Realtors® in the US. Wow! So, how do you find the right one for you? Based on years of working with clients, here are some of the best ways to go about finding the right agent for you.
1. Use a friend or family member
Some of you may be thinking “REALLY? Use a friend or family member? But what if something goes badly and the relationship is affected?” This is a valid concern and I’m not going to say it doesn’t happen. If your best friend’s cousin got his Real Estate license for fun and does not really work in the business, this may not be the best choice for you. However, if your sister-in-law has been selling Real Estate for 15 years and has made a successful career out of it WHY on Earth would you not want to give her your business? Believe me, when I’m working with a friend or family member I go above-and-beyond for them because I DON’T want things to turn out badly!
2. Ask friends and family members for recommendations
If you don’t know an agent personally, chances are there is someone somewhere in one of your circles who has someone they can recommend. Ask your neighbors, ask around your gym, the kids’ school or pose it to your friends and followers on social media. Getting a few names is a good place to start. You can always compare their websites and reviews OR meet with a few different agents to see who the best fit may be for you.
3. Think back to agents you’ve met at Open Houses
If you have been thinking about buying a house for a while, chances are you have wandered into your share of Open Houses. If you left your contact information these agents have undoubtedly contacted you at some point after that first meeting. Think back to some you have met…were there any that stood out to you based on conversations you had or maybe they’ve been sending you useful information since you met them? True story – I had someone call me out-of-the blue one time because they thought I would be a good fit to help them buy a house JUST because of a conversation they overheard me having with another open house patron.
4. Look around your neighborhood and the surrounding area
You can go years without ever noticing For Sale signs in the area but once you’re actively trying to sell or buy you’ll notice every sign without fail. Next time you’re driving to work or running errands, look closely at the signs in your neighborhood and then in your surrounding areas. Chances are, you’ll see some repeated names. If you see an agent has several listings in your immediate area, don’t you think they have a pretty good idea of what’s going on in your specific market? Call some of those agents to meet for a consultation.
Wherever your hunt for an agent takes you, there is one thing to ALWAYS keep in mind: USE A REALTOR®. As Realtors®, we have a high standard of rules, regulations and ethics to adhere to for your protection. We will go into depth on this in a future post!
*All of our web content is based strictly and solely on our Real Estate experience and Real Estate laws in the State of Georgia. It’s important to remember that Real Estate laws and customs vary by state.
