Don’t let the job of finding a real estate agent discourage you from hiring one. Realtors are ready, willing and able to help you. They have the information you will need about preparing, pricing, listing, advertising, showing, and selling your property. Many offices will have multiple agents to choose from.
Agents that advertise are no doubt successful. Most agents are contractors and spend their own money to promote themselves. There are many different realtors to choose from, but where do you look for their advertising? The Internet, newspapers, referrals, or simply walking into any real estate office will work. Let’s examine how each one of these ways can be highly effective.
Internet
Chance are if you have access to the Internet, that will be the first place you look to find a realtor of your choice. This is probably the easiest way to find a realtor. There are several websites you can visit, such as Realtor.com. You might prefer a specific real estate agency. All you have to do is visit one of these websites and you will be taken step by step on how to find the realtor for you.
Some agents even have their own websites. These sites can great sources for information about financing, buying and selling, trends, and real estate news. Often the websites are now linked with multiple listing services and you can browse properties for sale in your area.
Referrals
If someone you know worked with a particular realtor in the past and has nothing but great things to say about the experience, you should consider that referral. If that person was pleased with the service the realtor provided, there is a good chance you will be too. Referrals can come from anyone you know such as a friend, family member, or business associate. Another great source for a referral is neighbors. A real estate agent that has worked in your neighborhood will already be familiar with comparable sales, codes, and maybe even buyers. You can even check out real estate agents with listings in your area.
Newspapers or Magazines
Many times you might notice a realtor’s ad in newspaper or magazine. Depending on how the ad stands out, this might attract you to call that particular agent. If you see an agent is aggressively advertising and selling properties you might want to jump aboard their program.
Realtors want new business and are eager to help you. That is the reason why the realtor’s ad is in the newspaper or magazine in the first place. Knowing this information will motivate you to consider choosing a realtor with this method.
Walk in
Real estate offices in your area are waiting for you to walk in. If you happen see a real estate office, don’t hesitate to drop by. Talking to a realtor face to face can be highly effective. You can tell much about a person on the first meeting. Ask them for references and any information you need to choose an agent.
So what are you waiting for? Get going!
Frank Hendrickson is a real estate investor based in Texas. He is a former estate agent and writes widely about issues related to real estate and finance. His current interests currently span both the US and UK market especially the buy and rent back market and how it applies to the downturn in the real estate market.