The great Realtor for you might not have a brand new car, and might work for a family business (or a Fortune-400 company).
The right real estate professional has the flexibility to work on your schedule, and wants to work hard to find you the garden-style condo of your dreams.
Your needs are not the same as the last home shopper's needs. Some shoppers are moving in from out of state. Some home buyers don't plan on selling. Others need to move in 4 years. Some buyers love the fact that Nesbitt Realty will rebate them $1,465 when they use me to purchase 1802 Key Blvd #484. (Others couldn't care less.) In the same way that every buyer shopping in Arlington County is different, Realtors have different faculties and personality traits.
Here's my words to the wise for finding the most compatible Realtor for you when you're buying a property like 1802 Key Blvd #484 with 820 sqft of living space:
- Check out Realtor referrals. — I like Angie’s List because I know that Angie’s List voice verifies each review. You can also see if the agent or brokerage has any awards for client satisfaction.
- Take a minute to talk to a couple of real estate pros — There is no one-size-fits-all. I know that I'm not the Realtor for every buyer. The agent should have time to talk to you. If you pick the most popular Realtor in Arlington County, you might find yourself working with a junior associate affiliated with that real estate agent.
- It's critical that you and your agent share a certain rapport. — Interpersonal skills are as important as professional skills. You and your Realtor might be spending a lot of time together.
- Ask how they hunt. — When selecting a Realtor, ask how they identify garden-style condos. Some Realtors have their own preferred listings that they favor. But you want what’s most suitable for you, not what’s perfect for your licensed real estate adviser. So make sure the licensed real estate adviser is willing to search high and low to find the most compatible garden-style condo for you. That includes using the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) as well as their own personal network.
- Find out more about your representation agreement. — The Commonwealth of Virginia requires all licensed agents to sign a representation agreement before showing properties or having material discussions about a specific colonials. Be very wary of any agent that is not concerned about getting a representation agreement signed. Some representation agreements describe a rebate paid to the shopper at closing. (Nesbitt Realty offers rebates.) You'll want to read the fine print to make sure that this rebate isn't pulled away at the last minute. It's critical that you examine all documents during the home buying process, and that includes your agent's representation agreement.
