When you go to the doctor, you need some assurance that your health rests on good and prepared hands right? Well, the same principle applies when you find yourself in the process of buying a new property. If you watch many renovation shows on TV, you may be tempted to think that you don’t need a real estate agent. Let me save you some time and money, you do need to hire a professional, period! You wouldn’t try to fix a chipped tooth on your own, so let’s not make that mistake here, especially when you are about to spend a significant amount of money in a new home.
Now that we have established the importance of working with a professional real estate agent, we know that not all professionals share the same work ethics and values. You need to find someone that will help and guide you through the entire process.
We have identified a few traits to help you recognize when you have found a true and valuable real estate agent and not just another crook that will only see you as a walking dollar sign.
Pushy or Assertive? There’s a Big Difference
One of the oldest tricks in the book of “how to be the worst real estate agent ever” is to pressure the client into making a decision on the spot, or giving him a short time to think before making a choice. We’ve heard it all: “this property is trending right now, we need to act now”, “I’ve heard that two other couples already made an offer, we should too”.
Let’s be clear, timing is essential in the process of buying a property. You may indeed come across a great opportunity that offers great value for your money, and it is also true that these types of properties don’t stay on the market for too long, but you shouldn’t let anybody pressure you into a decision. Big decisions need time to think and asses! A good real estate agent should approach you with facts, and if the deal is good, your realtor must express the importance of making a fast decision without pushing you or making you feel coerced.
Guidance Through the Process
A good real estate agent should steer you in the right direction from day one and oversee the whole process of negotiations by your side. This endeavor takes time: meeting with your real estate agent to talk about your wish list, ideal budget, location, and many other factors. As well as viewing properties, multiple inspections, negotiations… It can be a handful. You should feel that your real estate agent listens to your input! Some realtors may have a hidden agenda and could try to show you properties that benefit them, so it is important that with each house that you visit, you feel that you are coming closer to what you are looking for. This will show you that you are working with someone that really listens and has your best interest in mind.
Building Trust
Trust is something that you earn, and this is easier said than done! Don’t be fooled by marketing campaigns and billboards on the street. The best real estate agents are the ones that offer you what you need, and you should be able to speak to them freely about your concerns. Also, allow your realtor to express his concerns freely to you as well, and over time, the relationship will grow pragmatic and the process will get easier.
Experience Is Key!
We can’t stress enough about the importance of working with an experienced real estate agent. It will save you time, which translates into saving money and will definitely make everything easier. If possible you should try to look for a realtor with experience in the specific area that you are interested in. Experienced realtors work with specific metrics of each neighborhood, and they should educate you about key factors that will impact your investment, such as school districts, upcoming trends, business development in the area, security and more. Also with experience comes the art of negotiations! You don’t want to put your money on someone on his first rodeo! This mistake could cost you money or maybe you could end up losing the house of your dreams.
At The Coto Group, we are happy to provide you with expert advice from our team of real estate agents. With over 40 years of experience, we know the market like the palm of our hand.
If you are interested in booking a consult with one of our realtors, please feel free to contact us at the 305.422.9286 and don’t forget to follow us on our social media accounts for more quality content regarding real estate investing at @thecotogroup on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
