So, you’re ready to sell your home. Or buy a new one. Or both.  

It’s critical in this mixed up, crazy housing market to find a reliable, qualified real estate agent to guide you through these complicated processes.  But how to start? North Shore home sellers and home buyers have a lot of options when it comes to choosing a realtor, and there’s no Match.com for real estate agents (a new start up idea? Hmmmm…).

Remember, you are hiring someone to help you conduct a very important business transaction, or two.  And it’s quite possible that it will end up being a long-term relationship.  This is a person with whom you may spend many hours in a car, driving to and from houses.  A person to whom you will entrust your home and all of its contents when you leave and s/he holds an open house or accompanies showings.  A person who will have a key to your home and know your alarm system code and possibly some of your most intimate financial details.

So here are a few tips for finding that wonderful agent:

  •  Start by asking people you trust if they have any wonderful agents to refer to you. When you’ve compiled a few names, start doing your own research. Google these folks. Check out their websites, blogs, and LinkedIn and Facebook pages. Then pick two or three that you like and set up an appointment to interview them for the job.
  • When you meet with them, find out what they offer you as their agent; why they will be the BEST thing to ever happen to you. Learn about how they run their business, what their philosophy is on servicing clients, how passionate they are about their chosen profession. Ask how they differentiate themselves from all the other agents within arms reach. 
  • Consider their background and experience–and I don’t mean just how long they have been an agent.  They may have some past experience that is relevant to their current job as an agent. Sometimes, the quantity of years spent at their job isn’t the best indicator of how good a person is at it.
  • Request testimonials and references. Speak with other people who have worked with this agent and find out their thoughts.
  • Sellers–DON’T  “sell your listing to the highest bidder.” We all want the most amount of money for our homes.  But hiring a “yes agent” who will list your home at any price you desire is not doing yourself any favors. Listen carefully to the potential agent’s thoughts on the market and how to best position your home within it. Price is the most important factor in selling a home today. It’s not the glossy brochures or the eloquently constructed prose or the fabulous job the agent will do memorizing and regurgitating the wonderful updates and upgrades in your home. It’s the price. So choose the agent who gives you a realistic number that today’s market will support, and you will be much happier in the long run. Trust me on this one, I know that for sure.
  • Buyers: Find someone who really gets your needs - maybe it’s someone who’s in the same life-stage as you, or has experienced what you are going through now (having the first baby and needing to upsize; going through a divorce and needing to downsize). Find someone who specializes in the areas where you are searching.  Make sure you are honest with yourself, your spouse and your agent about what exactly you want and need. But most of all, find someone you like, who you feel you can trust and will be there to help you as your work your way through the process, who will allow you to change your mind as you become more and more educated on what your money will buy.

I’m the first to say that there are ALOT of real estate agents for North Shore home sellers and home buyers to choose from.  So be picky, ask questions, and make sure the agent you choose meets your requirements and is someone you will feel good about working with.

Finding the agent for you is paramount to having a successful home buying or selling experience.

And, of course, if you don’t want to do all of that work, just call me! :)

This post is categorized under Real Estate 101, which features posts designed to give real estate buyers, sellers and spectators information and advice about today’s housing market. Feel free to contact me at 847-652-1902 or Stephanie.Hofman@cbexchange.com should you have any questions or want more information.