I was 24 when I bought my first house. I stumbled upon my real estate agent when I called the number on a “For Sale” sign for a house that I thought was cute. I didn’t end up buying that house, but she became my agent almost out of default ….or more accurately put, her persistence.

I knew that I wanted to live in either one of two different areas, both located close to downtown Greenville. Her niche was an area 20 minutes away from there. The first Saturday we looked at properties, instead of showing me houses where I wanted to live, we looked at 5 homes in her niche, the place that she was most passionate for.

And yet I continued to use her as my agent.

I redirected her to the area where I wanted to live and when we put in an offer, she never looked at the comparables to tell me if I was offering too much. And yet I continued to use her as my agent.

My point in telling you all of this is that there are certain things you should look for in agent. Their persistence, while important, should not be your sole determining factor.

So what should you look for in agent?

Relationship Builder

Instead of just sticking you in a car and bolting out to look at properties, find an agent who will slow it down and have a very real conversation with you. Remember, the relationship between you and this person hasn’t been built yet. Don’t you think the person who is helping you find (or sell) your single largest investment should know in detail your wants, needs, goals and dreams? So, look for an agent who will take the time to get to know you.

Market Expert

You want a real estate agent to know the area in which you are buying or selling. He or she should be a community expert who is not just up-to-date on the comparable sales and inventory but someone who is engrossed in the area. It’s certainly to your benefit to have a real estate agent who knows that the schools in that area will be rezoned next year or that a new highway is going up right outside the entrance to the subdivision that you love so much.

Committed

Some real estate agents only practice on a part-time basis. I would highly caution you against committing to someone who works in the field only part-time as they will most likely not have the time to give you the attention you need. Not just that, chances are that someone who only works part-time won’t be able to offer the market knowledge that a full-time professional can.

Timely Communicator

Along the same lines as commitment, you also want an agent who communicates promptly and effectively.  A real estate agent that fails to communicate with you in a timely manner can impact your ability to purchase that perfect home you finally found. Likewise, you could be equally impacted if selling.

An Advisor

You also want an agent who always has your best interest as their main focus. So, look for an agent who you feel will have direct conversations with you.  You should think of your agent as a trusted advisor, someone who is willing to tell you what you might not want to, but may need to hear. Just like an attorney or your accountant, a real estate professional is exactly that, a professional and an expert when it comes to real estate matters. If they see you are being unrealistic, you want an agent who will tell you exactly that in a kind and diplomatically way.

There are certainly other factors you may want to consider when selecting an agent, such as someone who is moral and ethical.  If you are not sure how to find an agent with all the qualifications you are looking for, ask your friends, family and network of peers. Last but not least consider interviewing. Who you entrust to help you with your real estate needs is a big and important decision so take as much time as you need to find the right person for you.

What are some of the qualifications you look for in a trusted real estate advisor?

By Amanda Serra