Buying or selling property is one of the most emotional and strategic decisions you will ever make. The competency of the real estate agent you choose will decide if you realize your goals from purchasing or putting your home on the market. While there is no dearth of real estate agents in NC, some outperform others. Here’s why.
Quality Inventory
It’s not the fourth or fifth property you see that you will finally end up buying. It could be your 11th or 12th in a city. Even if you have zeroed in on one suburb in Raleigh, you will want to find your perfect home, and that calls for access to not just an extensive but also a quality inventory, something only Raleigh’s top realtor can provide. Read on to learn why.
Solid Track Record
Realtors gain a reputation over time, and as trust builds, so does their inventory. Property owners list with well-connected, knowledgeable, and reliable realtors. Buyers prefer agents who have good reviews and have closed many deals. It’s a matter of potentially millions of dollars, so you may want to think twice before partnering with a rookie, which brings us to our third tip: experience.
They Have Been in Business for Many Years
Experience matters a great deal, although it is not the sole criterion when identifying a real estate agent in NC. A company that has deep knowledge of the local market is in the best position to advise you and align your expectations with the choice of neighborhood and properties. You can do minimal research yourself and gain fresh perspectives from your agent.
They Know the Risks
One of the biggest mistakes you can make, as a seller or buyer, is to hire an agent who keeps reassuring you that home purchase/sale will be a cakewalk. It is, in fact, a journey or a process – however you may choose to call it – and definitely fraught with risks. A real estate agent in Raleigh, NC who makes tall claims without backing it up with data may be bad news. On the other hand, a trustworthy agent will do the investment analysis, discuss the risks, and tell you about the potential long-term impact of buying and selling your property.
Compassionate
If the death of your spouse, a divorce, or pregnancy is your reason for selling or buying a home, you will appreciate someone who works patiently and empathetically with you. Interview a few agents to understand their outlook on life, see if they mesh well with your personality, and choose someone who not only has the credentials and experience, but also a good heart.
Support Team
Given the complex logistics of buying/selling property and the fact that agents work with several customers at a time, the assurance of support staff helps ensure that you don’t miss out on anything that may cause the deal to fall through the cracks. Typically, established realtors have a dedicated customer service team. Their response rate and effectiveness can be discerned from online reviews.