Buying or selling a home is one of the largest financial transactions a person will experience ever. Hiring the wrong agent can lead to mistakes. Mistakes might cost you the home or tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. Do you need an agent? Here are 4 signs of a great agent in Newark, Irvington, Orange, and East Orange.
Has Experience in Your Property Type
A used car salesman is not the same as a Tesla salesman. This is a pretty widely accepted notion yet consumers think nothing of looking at the types of home a real estate agent has experience selling. Ask the agent about recent sales or do some research on real estate sites such as Zillow. Get insight into how many transactions an agent has done over the past year and on what types of properties. Some agents simply have more experience. Other agents may be newer but have a mentor guiding them through the process.
A busy agent has a pulse on the market. Having conducted recent transactions, the busy agent knows if the market is hot for sellers rather than buyers. Finding out about an agent’s recent transactions provides insights about their attitude about buying or selling a home in present market conditions.
Provides Options Based on Professional Insight
A great agent doesn’t give one idea. Great agents look at market data to help determine a top and bottom price range based on the house size, quality, and amenities. Great agents have ideas on how to improve selling prices based on simple fixes or expensive overhauls and will give you details to help you decide if the investment is worth it.
Great buyer’s agents listen to the buyer’s wish list and help find properties that meet as many needs and wants while remaining in the budget. They also help educate buyers based on realistic market expectations and encourage buyers to get pre-approved for loans so they can move quickly.
Follows Up Promptly
Great agents respond to clients. In this day and age, everyone has cell phones and is accessible. Of course, agents have a right to enjoy time off as well, but within reason during business hours, great agents respond quickly. If an agent doesn’t answer immediately, they call back. If unavailable, they offer a secondary contact such as an assistant or a business partner.
Prompt communication is essential in real estate. Properties come onto the market constantly and offers are being written all the time. Once in the escrow process, great agents constantly help clients understand timelines and the influx of information coming at them.
A Rolodex of Resources
Great agents have resources for clients. Resources might include referrals to mortgage lenders or the ability to get a variety of home inspections done quickly through contractors they trust. Great agents offer resources but don’t require clients use their resources; it’s always the client’s choice.
Resources go well beyond required transaction referrals. A great agent can connect clients with landscapers, handymen or contractors, or any other neighborhood resource a new family in the area might need.