Before hiring a realtor near Tenafly, interrogate at least three agents before deciding who you want for your most important purchases. To help you figure that out, here are ten questions to ask a real estate agent to figure out which one is right for you.
How Long Have You Worked as a Real Estate Agent?
You should engage a professional who understands all the business procedures; this training level is attained only through experience. Look for a realtor with a minimum of several years in the industry.
If the agent is merely a junior novice, get him to take in hands-on training from a real estate broker within his office (a broker is an agent who studied real estate education courses beyond the agent level and manages a team of agents). Professionalism is key to a good experience for the sellers and buyers. A novice or unprofessional agent won’t give you the same confidence.
Which Neighborhoods Do You Frequently Sell In?
Your agent must be familiar with the geographies you are looking into. Hence the search for a realtor who can easily explain critical data about your sought-after neighborhood, like housing prices, schools, security, public transport options, and amenities.
What’s Your Timetable and Availability?
Before you sign a contract with a realtor, your initial learning is to study the mortgage choices offered to you. Numerous factors may influence the price, term, or interest rates of the mortgage, and all these factors may influence the house you might afford.
Most real estate agents work part-time, which poses a problem: What if a bidding war suddenly begins for the house you need o attend to, or the realtor encounters a last-minute closing problem? So, you need an agent that works full time or, if not, the agent must tell all parties that urgent matters may be addressed only at a convenient time.
Do You Work Independently or With a Team?
Some people regard real estate as a solo game, but most agents work in a real estate team with more agents, their admin, and a team director—and there are advantages to working with the agents who form part of a team. For instance, when your agent is busy, and you must view a property ASAP, another agent on the team can step in and let you tour the home or handle urgent problems in place of your usual agent.
What Percentage of Your Business Is Working with Home Buyers?
While many agents help home buyers and sellers, the best tend to specialize in one or the other, as the specialties are different. To buy a home, you must team up with a buyer’s agent who negotiates with home buyers. A listing agent focuses on working with home sellers. Look for an agent with a buyer-to-seller client ratio of 7 to 3.
How Many Homes Have You Helped Buyers Close Over the Last Year?
This question is unique, as you need realtors who help people buy homes successfully. There are many differences between ‘working’ with home buyers or practically selling people houses,
How Long Does It Usually Take Buyers You’ve Worked with to Find and Purchase a Home?
But the number varies from sector to sector, and you must know how long it might take. If an agent admits it may take six months to a year to purchase a home, that’s a telltale sign you should not engage this tardy worker.
How Many Clients Do You Have Now?
You should engage an occupied agent but not to extremes: Agents handling more than ten clients might be less productive.
