Whether buying or selling a home, you must work with a Brooklyn Heights real estate agent who knows what they’re doing. Choosing the right agent can mean the difference between a lengthy, complex home buying or selling process and a quick and easy one. Here are some top tips for choosing the right real estate agent to work with.
Ask for a list of recent clients
No matter if you are looking to sell your current home or are looking at Brooklyn Heights houses for sale for the first time, you need to ask your potential real estate agent for a list of recent clients to figure out if they are up to the task. If you are buying a new home, find out from the list of recent clients what the asking price of the home was and what they actually paid for the property.
If you are selling your current home, get some background info to see if the agent’s previous clients’ homes had features like yours. Figure out where these homes were located, how much the clients were asking for, and what the properties actually sold for. You should also find out how long the homes were on the market.
Check for licensing info, credentials, and professional awards
Beyond looking into their recent clients, you should also check for the agent’s
licensing info, credentials, and professional awards. The agent’s licensing info is available in the public domain. You just need to go online and enter the name and license number of the real estate agent, and the info will come up. You can also see if the agent has any disciplinary actions or complaints against them. Ask potential NYC agents about professional awards they have received. Any professional award or honor they have received is a great stamp of approval from their peers.
Check for any additional credentials the agent has beyond just their real estate license. Look for post-nominal initials after the agent’s name. CRS stands for Certified Residential Specialist, which means the agent has an extra skill set that qualifies them to work in residential real estate. SRES stands for Seniors Real Estate Specialist, which means they are qualified to help real estate sellers and buyers aged 50 years and older. ABR stands for Accredited Buyer’s Representative, which means they are qualified to help buyers in all real estate transactions.
Figure out how long they have been in business
Find out how long the real estate agent has been in business. It’s best to select someone who has been in the real estate business for at least five years. The agent should actively engage in other Brooklyn Heights or Cobble Hill properties within the price range you’re looking for. This way, they can demonstrate proper area knowledge to get you the best possible deal. You can either ask the agent directly or look up the agent in the New York licensing database to figure out how long they’ve been in the real estate business.
Look at their current listings
Most potential real estate clients start their search online, so looking up the Cobble Hill real estate agent’s current listings is another excellent way to determine if you will be a good fit. Check to see if the agent’s listings are similar to what you want to buy or sell, if they are similar to your price range, and if they are in your area code. You want to work with a real estate agent with an excellent business portfolio and a widespread network. It helps if the agent’s website looks visually appealing as well.
The agent’s knowledge of the area is important
The real estate agent knowledge of the Cobble Hill and Brooklyn Heights areas is crucial. When you’re speaking to a potential agent, casually mention a property in the area that was recently sold or bought and pay attention to their response to figure out how in touch they are with the goings on of the neighborhood. The real estate agent doesn’t necessarily need to have dealt with the home directly, but they should know at least a few details about the property.
Interview multiple real estate agents
When choosing a real estate agent, it’s important to interview multiple different people. Ideally, you should interview at least three agents before choosing the person you will work with. You should ask about the methods the agent plans to use to find the right Cobble Hill property. You should also ask the real estate agent to give you a list of their recent home sales and client references you can call to verify the sales.
You should pay attention to the way the agent responds to your initial inquiry since this is an excellent indicator of how your future interactions will go. Look for a real estate agent who responds quickly and with plenty of information.
Attend the real estate agent’s open houses
Attending the agent’s open houses is a great way to interact with them in a non-threatening and informal environment. Going to these open houses is crucial if you are looking for a real estate agent to help you sell your property. You will be able to pick up some important details at these open houses, including whether the real estate agent is informative, friendly, and polite.
See if the agent hands out professionally designed promotional material about the home during the open house. Notice the way the agent interacts with potential home buyers. They should be actively pointing out features about the property and giving tours rather than sitting in a corner and ignoring the open house guests.
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