When it comes time to buy a house, there are hundreds of things that race through the minds of homebuyers. Whether it’s their budget, where they want to live, the features they want or amenities they need, — it’s clear why the process can consume the best of us. That’s why partnering with a real estate agent, despite everything you may have heard, could actually be in your best interests.
Top-rated real estate agents not only have experience and expertise in the industry, but can make the home-buying process much less stressful. By handling the paperwork, communicating with escrow and the seller, and ensuring all requirements are in line, the right realtor can guide you towards making the best possible decision.
Why Work with a Realtor?
They Know the Market and Neighborhood
Having a quality real estate agent by your side is like having the inside scoop on the latest information regarding the housing market. They keep an eye on the newest listings, understand the community you’re looking for, and can be helpful in determining whether a house is right for you. A good realtor is full of insight and information that is crucial to have when it comes to making a major purchase like buying a house.
Negotiating Expertise
One of the biggest advantages of buying a home with a realtor is their knowledge of how to interact with sellers and their agents, and the prices that keep you in the running when making offers. In today’s housing market, properties come and go at the blink of an eye, and the last thing you want is to miss out on an opportunity because you may have low-balled on the offer.
Partnering with an agent gives you the upper hand when negotiating, given that their emotions won’t get in the way of finding the best deal. This can often be the difference between getting the home of your dreams, or having to settle for less.
They Take Care of the Details
Aside from just being able to get you a good deal, real estate agents are invaluable when it comes to making sure you have everything you need to buy a home. This includes paperwork that might be required from escrow, how to get the best rates from different lenders, or saving you money on homeowners insurance rates.
Working with a realtor minimizes the potential risks that come with buying a house, and ensures last-second issues don’t arise upon closing.
Things to Look for in a Realtor
Honesty and Openness
One of the most important traits that a real estate agent should have is honesty and transparency. Although this is hard to determine from the onset, reading some reviews online should provide insight into what they do — or don’t do — best.
If you see honesty or openness as a recurring theme in the reviews, this should be considered a very positive sign, given the sometimes-dishonest reputation that realtors have taken on.
Easy Communication
What’s the point of having a realtor if they are difficult to communicate with? All top-rated real estate agents will be easy to communicate with, both in terms of face-to-face interactions, as well as being able to reach them through call or text.
Having strong communication skills throughout the process should be crucial for all homebuyers, as this will alleviate any uncertainty with the transaction, and you’ll always be in the loop on next steps.
More Experience is Always Better
When it comes to identifying a realtor to work with, the number of years they’ve been in the industry, and how active they have been, is a key indicator that all potential buyers should consider. Real estate agents that have been in the game for many years often have wider networks to tap into, and know how to find the home that’s right for you.
Similarly, if the agent doesn’t seem to be as active as other realtors, this could be a red flag about where their attention is allocated, and whether they’ll be the best representation for you.
Overall, when it comes to buying a home, the transaction can become confusing and risky, especially for those without much experience in real estate. However, prospective buyers can reduce the amount of risk they are exposed to, by partnering with a top-rated realtor in their area. By finding an agent that has your best interests in mind, you can rest assured that you know what to expect through each stage of the process.
