5 Crucial Areas to Assess Before Choosing a Realtor®
Selecting just any Realtor® can mean the difference between a quick and smooth sale or purchase or a long, frustrating and painful process. To make sure you have a great experience when you plan to enter the real estate market, look into each of these five areas to help you choose the right Realtor for you and your family.
Verify Their Licensing & Credentials
First and foremost, your Lansing real estate agent should have their real estate license. Also look into what other credentials they hold, especially those that pertain to your particular situation. These different credentials could be ABR® (Accredited Buyer’s Representative), CRS® (Certified Residential Specialist), or SRES® (Senior Real Estate Specialist). Are they a member of the National Association of Realtors?
By looking into their licensing and credentials, you can be confident that your Realtor has pledged to a code of ethics and that they are equipped to help you with your unique needs.
Good Track Record
A lot can be learned from simply listening to feedback from other people about their experiences. Take a look into the reviews different agents have gotten either on the Quality Service Certified website or on their brokerage’s website to get an idea of how they treat their clients and if they’d be a good fit for you.
View Past & Current Listings
By looking into what types of homes a particular Realtor has sold as well as those that they currently have on the market, you can get a better idea of whether or not that person has worked within the area of your home and with other homes similar to yours. Although, this is not an end-all if a particular agent does not seem to have listings just like yours, but it can be a factor in making your decision.
Location Specializations
Sometimes you’ll find that certain Realtors will specialize in specific cities or regions because they have either sold or bought a lot of homes in that area or maybe they’ve lived in a specific area for 20+ years. If you can find a Realtor that specializes in the cities you’re interested in buying or selling in, you'll automatically be getting a leg-up because you’ll have a professional with the most knowledge working alongside you.
Ask Questions
The more questions you ask, the more you’ll get a sense of if a particular agent is knowledgeable about the market and how to serve your needs. Ask questions about everything from current Lansing real estate market happenings and their process of marketing a for-sale home to their recommendations for moving companies and contractors. The more you ask, the more you'll get a feel for whether or not they would be a good fit for you.
If you are looking for a Realtor to assist you with your home buying or selling, feel free to contact one of our Greater Lansing real estate agents! Whether you're new to the market or looking to relocate, they can walk you through every step of the process.
