The person that you chose to either help you buy or sell your home is a huge decision in that you may be buying the most expensive thing you will ever buy, in your lifetime. The wrong choice can definitely lead to more trouble than it’s worth, so you’ll want to make sure that you think carefully about your decision. To help you make the right choice, here are some tips to lead you in the right direction!
Trust your gut (and the chemistry)
You know that expression “trust your gut”? It really comes into play, here. No matter how nice their words may seem, if your gut tells you that something doesn’t feel right, trust it. It could just be a personality mismatch. Perhaps it’s something more serious, such as someone trying to simply get you to sign on to working with them. Whatever it may end up to be, ignored bad gut vibes is never going to work in your favor. There are a ton of real estate professionals out there and they are all vying for the same real estate so you definitely want someone who is truly working in your best interest, like Gulf Coast Star Realty.
Similarly, don’t settle for someone that you don’t have chemistry with. Buying or selling a home is an intimate (and lifelong) experience, so make sure that you feel like you can really trust and communicate with the real estate agent you’re considering! While you can do it without those things, it can make it pretty stressful because they just aren’t on the same page as you.
Ask for recommendations from other homeowners
Recommendations and referrals are going to be a great place to help you get your shortlist. Ask around to homeowners that you know and trust, and see how they feel about their real estate agent. Since this is still how a lot of people find their list of options, this is really important and helpful!
Focus on someone who understands your needs
Everyone’s needs are different when buying or selling. Circumstances, financial difficulties, a change in family status, all factors in. If your real estate agent doesn’t empathize or connect with that, it might not be a good relationship. You deserve to have someone who is going to factor all of your needs in just as much as you do!
Figure out if they are prepared to, and want to, negotiate on your behalf
Some real estate agents really dislike negotiations. It’s part of the job, unfortunately, but that’s the truth. If you know that negotiation is going to play into your plans significantly, you deserve to know whether or not they are going to fight for you. Not only will the right real estate agent fight for you, but they’ll also know how to do it just right to get you to the end result that you’re looking for!
There are quite a few ways that you can go about finding the right specific agent for your needs, of course, but these tips are going to help you head in the right direction using the criteria that you all care about most! Even if this helps you narrow your potential list from 5 to 3, that’s a step in the right direction! When it comes to the right connection, that’s what it’s all about.
If you are considering For Sale by Owner (FSBO), read this and let us know if you have any questions. Contact us at (979) 244-5353 or check out our additional listings here.