{"id":825,"date":"2016-05-16T06:30:20","date_gmt":"2016-05-16T13:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/?p=825"},"modified":"2017-02-24T17:39:41","modified_gmt":"2017-02-25T00:39:41","slug":"choosing-a-real-estate-professional","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/choosing-a-real-estate-professional","title":{"rendered":"7 Things To Have On Your Checklist When Choosing A Real Estate Pro"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_828\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-828\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/woman-writing-in-journal.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/woman-writing-in-journal.jpg\" alt=\"A woman writes in a journal\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-828\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Picture courtesy of PicJumbo.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a homebuyer you\u2019re about to embark on one of the biggest, most stressful and exciting journeys in your life. You need to be certain that you can trust your real estate professional to deliver the goods. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, choosing the right realtor can be difficult. There is a lot to consider, and with fierce competition between agents, all of the information can be a little bit overwhelming. Here are some key steps to help you pinpoint the real estate agent that will be the best fit for you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><b>1. Speak with former clients<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you meet the agent in person, they obviously will be putting their best foot forward. So, for a more unbiased view of their work habits, try to speak with people who have worked with them in the past. Online testimonials are a great place to start. But for more in-depth insight into the agent\u2019s area expertise, check out their Facebook page. If you have friends in common, ask them about their experience with the agent in question.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">2. State board records<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check with your local <a href=\"http:\/\/www.realtor.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">REALTOR<\/a><\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.realtor.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00ae <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">board for license information, employment history and disciplinary actions. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">3. Industry designations<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Real estate agents often go above and beyond minimum education requirements to specialize in specific areas of the business. Depending on what you\u2019re looking for, you might want to look for an agent with specific credentials and designations.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crs.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">CRS<\/a> (Certified Residential Specialist) &#8211; Looking for a residential home? These professionals have been specially trained in residential sales.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.realtor.org\/designations-and-certifications\/abr\" target=\"_blank\">ABR<\/a> (Accredited Buyer\u2019s Representative) &#8211; Qualified ABR agents specialize in helping their clients buy their new home. To become an ABR, agents first need to have the required experience before they are able to undergo specialized training. Once qualified, agents are able to assist you through the entire process, from locating suitable properties based on your wants and needs to closing the deal. These agents are top of their field. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.seniorsrealestate.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">SRES<\/a> (Seniors Real Estate Specialist) &#8211; These agents have specialized <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">knowledge and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">experience working with people in the 50+ age range.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, don\u2019t disregard peer-given awards; these can be a sign of an accomplished agent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>4. How long they have been in business<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is obviously a great measuring stick for an agent\u2019s experience. You can find out how long they\u2019ve been in business through the licensing association. However, newer agents with the right work and community experience often offer a fresh perspective and enthusiasm to get the job done. Who you choose depends on your personal preference and real estate goals. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">5. Current listing inventory<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can find an agent\u2019s listings online through their social media pages, personal website and sites like Realtor.com. Take a look at how their past and current listings compare to the type of house you are looking for and explore their marketing strategy. Also, take note of the number of listings they have and ask them what their typical inventory looks like. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be prepared with listing inventory questions, should you take the next step and interview the agent. \u00a0Do they specialize in select neighborhoods? \u00a0What is their niche area? \u00a0How long do homes typically stay on the market?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">6. Knowing the neighborhood<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A good agent should know about other available properties in their area of expertise \u00a0&#8220;off the top of his head,&#8221; says Robert Irwin, author of <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Tips-Traps-When-Buying-Home\/dp\/0071508414\" target=\"_blank\">Tips &amp; Traps When Buying a Home<\/a>.<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8220;You want someone like that who&#8217;s on top of the market.&#8221; \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aside from inventory expertise, ask the agent about the aspects of the community that are most important to you, including school ratings, restaurants, the community, shopping and other local amenities. \u00a0In addition to knowing what most attracts homebuyers to the area, a good agent also will understand the challenges homeowners in the area face.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">7. Do they have a strong online presence<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media is the new word-of-mouth,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">so an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cityblast.com\/realtyexecutives\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">agent&#8217;s online presence<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can be a good gauge of how up-to-date they are on the market and their industry connections. Do they have an active Facebook, Twitter or Linkedln page? Are they updating their social media pages regularly with knowledgeable content? If they are, this is a good sign that they have their finger on the pulse. Smart agents often utilize online tools to streamline their social media systems and processes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Choose wisely<\/b><\/p>\n<p>There is a lot to consider when you start looking for an agent. Don\u2019t just pick the first one you find. Do your research online, interview at least 3 different agents and choose someone who you connect with and has your best interests at heart.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Want to get your home search started today? Search for properties in Canada or the United States at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/AgentOfficeSearch\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Realty Executives<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This guest post was written by Sara Luckman of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cityblast.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CityBlast<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The team at CityBlast <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">helps over 10,000 agents and brokers with their social media marketing, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">keeping their Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn up-to-date and professional.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a homebuyer you\u2019re about to embark on one of the biggest, most stressful and exciting journeys in your life. You need to be certain that you can trust your real estate professional to deliver the goods. However, choosing the right realtor can be difficult. There is a lot to consider, and with fierce competition &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/choosing-a-real-estate-professional\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">7 Things To Have On Your Checklist When Choosing A Real Estate Pro<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[415],"tags":[417,216],"yst_prominent_words":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/825"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=825"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/825\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1708,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/825\/revisions\/1708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=825"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=825"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=825"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}