5 Things to Look for in a Trustable Real Estate Professional
There are many things to know when buying or selling a home, and the last thing you want to worry about is whether or not your real estate professional is looking out for you or is just looking to make a sale happen.
Before you choose a real estate professional to help you through the process, I suggest you make sure that they have the following qualities, to make sure that they are right for you!
1. They Help you Find What you Want
Although you may have to compromise between the type of home that you want and what’s available or achievable within your means, your real estate professional should still have your wants and needs in mind.
If your real estate professional shows you too many homes that have nothing to do with your expectations, you might want to reconsider them. If they go the extra mile to find specific homes that they think you will like, and even warn you against homes that they don’t think are for you, they probably have your best interests at heart.
2. They Know the Real Estate Landscape in your Community
It’s one thing to hire a qualified real estate professional, but it’s another to hire one that is familiar with your community. If a real estate professional is familiar with the area that you want to buy or sell in, they will be better suited to spot when a new potential home is overpriced for the area, and will have more knowledge when deciding what price to list your home for if you want to sell it. Someone that is not familiar with your community can’t do this.
3. They Have the Right Designations
There are many licensed real estate agents out there, but not many of them belong to a professional association or have furthered their education by attaining designations that, although less common, are crucial for making sure that you are in the best possible position
One of the most highly recognized real estate designations is the FRI/FRI(E), which is issued by the Real Estate Institute of Canada. A real estate professional with this designation must abide by REIC’s code of ethics, which is very strict. If your realtor is MCNE certified (Master Certified Negotiation Expert), this will allow them to negotiate the best possible deal for you. A home is the largest investment that you will ever make, and you don’t want to leave it in just anyone’s hands to make sure that you get the best return for that investment.
4. They Regularly Communicate
Regular communication is the most important thing that a real estate professional can provide to their clients. Buying or selling a home can be stressful and emotional, to say the least, so you’ll definitely want to know what’s going on at every stage.
If your real estate professional regularly keeps you updated about what’s happening and is responsive, it means that they are sensitive to this and genuinely care about your wellbeing. If not, they might just want to make a sale, and you should reconsider them.
5. They are Honest
The most important quality of a trustable real estate professional is that they don’t just tell you what you want to hear. When you buy your first home, there are hard truths that you should know so that you’re prepared. If your real estate professional is willing to tell you these truths, it is for your own good.
I always suggest to my clients that they interview three or four other agents before deciding whether or not to work with me. No professional is right for everyone, and I prefer that my clients work with me only if they feel that I am the right fit for them.
Send us a message here if you’re looking for your first home, or are looking to sell one. We’d love to see how we can help you through the process! We back up our customer service and our actions with the Coldwell Banker Ultimate Service® Guarantee.
