Realtors® and agents, which you can easily access. You will also be able to see their information, disciplinary actions, complaints, or any other information that you’ll need to help influence your decision — especially since most of the information is now posted online.
TRACK DOWN RECENT CLIENTS
Ask the agent to give you a list of sales they’ve made in the past year and a couple of phone numbers for references. A good agent will do so, while a bad agent will give you excuses and essentially shoot the request down. Ask the agent, before you call any of the numbers listed, if the owners were pleased or disappointed with the agent. If the agent beats around the bush or refuses to give a full answer, that’s a red flag that should tell you to move on!
GIVE THE “WHAT ELSE” TEST
A good agent will know about all the other properties for sale in the area. Also, a good agent always does their research regarding the events in the current market, and those that are out there for the taking. In short, you want an agent who’s an expert of the current market, and someone who always stays on top of things.
RESEARCH THEIR BUSINESS ACTIVITY
Learning the type of market presence that a real estate agent has is the best way to figure them out. Ideally, you’re going to want an agent who has been in the business for at least five years, specializes in one or two real estate markets, and who understands which types of homes and amenities are available within your price range. You can unearth this information by asking them or by asking the state licensing authority if you’re not comfortable with asking the agent directly.
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