In today’s world, where listings are found online, REALTOR’s still have an important role. They have information that is not on the Internet that can help you to find a house to buy or to sell your house. This is true if you are buying your first home or if you are relocating to a new place that you are not familiar with. With that said, you can still find issues people take with agents.
REALTORS often have two main complaints, one of which is often unfounded. First is that they are poor communicators. This varies agents to agent and unfortunately can be true. The second being that they don’t always pay attention to buyers needs as much as they should. Instead, the belief is that agents show potential buyers houses above their budget. Then they try to cajole them into going for it because it means they make more in commission. 99% of the time this isn’t true. You will sometimes find unscrupulous agents just like you will find that in any industry. The normal reason agents often push buyers to more expensive homes, or homes in other areas, is that expectations are often beyond what they can actually afford right now.
Get it right with references
In this regard, it is important to do some homework on potential REALTORS before choosing one. You can look online but don’t go for just any. Anyone can create a grand image of themselves and their brand online superficially.
References from people you know and trust are the best way to assess real estate agents. Ask family members, friends, and colleagues which agents they use. From their references, create a list of the top three or four REALTORS and arrange to talk to them.
If your network doesn’t have any good suggestions then find some agents and don’t be afraid to ask. Ask for all the references you need to feel comfortable.
Speak up
If you engage a REALTOR and later feel that it is not working out well with them, don’t be afraid to speak up. Even if you are contractually obligated to that agent you still have options. You may be able to fix whatever is wrong in the relationship. Conversely, if you find a good agent, do other buyers and sellers a favour and share your experience.
Picking the right agent to help you buy or sell a home can be stressful. Do your due diligence and make sure you know your options.
