The best real estate pro for you might not be a local, and is not always the one with the most sales under his or her belt. Your best choice in Fairfax County won't panic when facing an unexpected curve, and is easy to get along with.
Here's some clues for discovering the great Realtor for you when you're buying a abode like 12879 Knight Arch Rd with 5,138 sqft of living space:
- Check out licensed real estate adviser 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.
- Interview several real estate pros — The Realtor should have time to interface to you. If you pick the most popular Realtor in Fairfax, you might find yourself working with a junior associate affiliated with that Realtor. There is no one-size-fits-all. I know that I'm not the real estate agent for every purchaser.
- Your real estate agent should never have an irritating personality. — We all have unique personalities, and that's the way it should be. But when working with someone professionally, if helps if their personality “meshes” well with your own. You want a Realtor that “gets you”.
- Find out how each agent identifies detacheds for the home buyer. — When selecting a real estate professional, ask how they search for detacheds. Some Realtors have their own preferred listings that they favor. But you want what’s dream for you, not what’s dream for your real estate pro. So make sure the agent is willing to search high and low to find the ideal abode for you. That includes using the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) as well as their own personal network.
- The devil is in the details. — The Commonwealth of Virginia requires all licensed agents to sign a representation agreement before showing properties or having material discussions about a specific home. Be very wary of any agent that is not concerned about getting a representation agreement signed. This advice is heavily used for a reason. It doesn't hurt to have a lawyer take a look at your representation agreement, but usually that's not necessary. The document is pretty straight forward.
- Check out licensed real estate adviser 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.
