What Questions Should You Ask A Potential Real Estate Agent

real estate agent Westminster

The knowledge, experience and attitude of your real estate agent will influence all aspects of the transaction that you want – if you want to sell your property, you need an agent who knows how to stage your home and how to advertise it with maximum efficiency; if you are looking for a new home, you need an agent with a large portfolio and in-depth knowledge of the market.

Making sure that your agent meets all these requirements is no small or easy task. The best way to get started is to talk to the people you know, asking them to provide you with references, then you should take the time to go online to check the names that have been referred to you and to find more agents active in your area. When you have a list with at least four names of real estate agents on it, you should start scheduling face to face visits with the agents you consider suitable. Here are some of the most important topics to cover during those meetings.

Longevity in the Business and Expertise

Real estate is a highly competitive segment, so any agent that has managed to survive in the business must be a good, successful specialist who has insight and the right type of attitude. Ask the agents that you consider suitable based on your preliminary research about how long they have been practicing and also ask them about their field of expertise – a real estate agent Westminster professional who specializes in the type of property that you want to buy or sell will probably be able to give you results faster.

The Process of Buying or Selling

You need to know exactly how your agent will proceed when looking for the best buyers for your property or for the best properties for you to visit. Ask the agent about the databases and online platforms they use for advertising and for finding properties that meet client specifications, about the process of checking real estate properties as well as about the documents related to the buying or selling process. If you are planning to use some sort of financing solution for your transactions, such as a mortgage, ask the agents you talk to whether they can help you with that phase as well.

Licensing and Referrals

It might sound obvious, but many people fail to check whether their real estate agent has a valid license. Do not make that mistake – even if the real estate agent in front of you inspires trust and seems reliable, ask to be shown their license and also take the time to check the validity of the document in your state. Ask the agent to provide you some references that you can call, too – those calls will help you figure out whether you have found the best professional for your goals or whether you should keep on looking.

Information about Commissions

Before you hire anyone, you should know how much you will be paying your agent, so discuss those details before entering a binding contract.