How to choose a good realtor
Selling or buying real estate is easier and faster with a realtor. But the speed of the transaction, the cost of housing and the overall impression of cooperation depend on the realtor chosen by the seller or buyer. We share a few important recommendations on how to find a realtor for selling or buying an apartment.
1. Choose a realtor with a specific specialization
A universal specialist is unlikely to be as effective in the work as an agent who has his own narrow specialization, such as luxury real estate, sale of apartments, purchase of commercial premises, new buildings, secondary market, etc. The latter will be well versed in his segment and know certain nuances of the work, which will help faster and more profitable to conclude a deal.
Choosing a narrow specialist, you can be sure that he has gained useful experience, and not picked up on top of knowledge from different segments and does not understand in practice how to apply them. Check the competence of the agent is quite simple: you need to talk to the realtor and pay attention to whether he asks leading questions, whether he offers ways to solve the problem, etc.
2. Give preference to realtors who work by neighborhoods
If buying or selling real estate is planned in a large city, it is best to find an agency that has a realtor assigned to each neighborhood. In the case of selling real estate, this will allow you to find a buyer faster, because the agent already has his own database of potential clients for the purchase of housing in the area.
When buying an apartment, you should also follow this strategy. Once you have decided on the neighborhood where you would like to live, you should look for a realtor who knows it well. Such an agent probably already has several properties for sale in this part of the city. He can also advise on which houses to pay attention to, and where it is better not to settle, will tell you about the advantages and disadvantages of a particular choice.
3. Check the realtor's social media
Choosing a realtor who is a good fit is not easy. He may be an excellent specialist, but not suitable for the buyer or seller in his life values, because of which cooperation will not be particularly comfortable. To avoid such situations, it is worth studying the realtor in advance: what he is, what life principles he adheres to, how he talks about his colleagues and clients.
The easiest way is to find several realtors in a social network and subscribe to them. After observing the specialists for a while, you can understand how comfortable it will be to work with each of them. This will allow you to narrow down the choice and decide on an agent more quickly.
4. Make sure the realtor is professional
If you plan to sell an apartment and want to find a good realtor, you should be on the buyer's side and thus check the specialist. To do this, you can simply call the selected agent and communicate as a potential buyer. If the realtor provides maximum information about the object, is able to interest and it is pleasant to communicate with him, you can stop your choice on him. If the agent can not give clear answers to questions, does not want to spend enough time talking, it is worth continuing the search for a specialist.
5. Negotiate the terms of interaction in advance
Even before you start working, it is worth discussing with the realtor all the terms of interaction. These include convenient time for showings/viewings, approximate cost at which you would like to buy/sell the property, maximum discount for the buyer, etc.
An unprofessional realtor can agree to all the conditions, just to start cooperating with the client. Whereas a competent expert argues his objections and can offer his own, no less favorable, conditions.
It is also worth asking about the realtor's strategy. Professionals always have a marketing plan for selling real estate or a strategy for finding a suitable apartment for purchase. It does not hurt to ask what tools the agent uses to promote the property, how he looks for buyers or how he selects apartments for purchase.
6. Ask about commissions and do not skimp
In Ukraine, the commission to the realtor can be paid by both the buyer and the seller, depending on the general agreements. The commission may be divided in half between the parties to the transaction. It is better to clarify this issue in advance, so that there is no unpleasant surprise when the commission is paid not by the other party, but by the one who directly contacted the realtor.
It is best to refuse to cooperate with a realtor who works for a minimum commission. Such an agent is either not confident in his knowledge or is just beginning his professional journey. But remember that inflated commissions do not always indicate the high quality of the expert's work. His experience and knowledge may be at the same level as most realtors, while the latter will offer their services at the average market value.
7. Ask about the availability of reports
Ask the realtor you plan to work with if he or she provides reports on the stages of the work done. Previously, realtors did not bother to explain to clients neither pricing, nor ways of selecting options for purchase. Now, regular reporting to the client is a mandatory part of working with a professional realtor or real estate agency. If the agent works for a buyer or seller, he must show what he has done to achieve the goal.
You can find a good realtor for selling or buying real estate in Kyiv or Kyiv region in "Mayak" real estate agency. The agency employs only professional realtors who adapt to the needs of the client, take responsibility and know the current situation in the market. Specialists of the real estate agency "Mayak" guarantee an individual approach and effective work.
