Are you considering moving to Aledo, TX, or selling your current home? Are you wondering if you should work with a real estate agent? Working with an experienced real estate agent can help create a stress-free experience navigating the often challenging buying or selling process. Read on to find out how you can find the right real estate agent to work with on your next home sale!
1. Ask family, friends, and co-workers for referrals
Whether you are a first-time home buyer or hoping to sell your Aledo home after many years, you might not know which realtor to work with. The best way to find a prospective realtor is by asking the people you know. Ask any family members, friends, or co-workers who might have sold or bought a new home within the past few months. They can provide you with referrals to prospective Aledo realtors. Considering that 89% of homeowners are likely to recommend their realtors to others, it is a pretty sure bet that you can find an excellent realtor through referrals.
By asking the people you know for referrals to prospective realtors, you can also ask them what it was like to work with them. You could find out many things, from the overall quality and speed of their buying or selling experiences to their likes or dislikes. You can then gauge what it would be like to work with these prospective realtors.
2. Check licensing and additional certifications and awards
Once you have made a list of prospective Aledo real estate agents, you need to do some research. First, you need to make sure that they are licensed. You can easily go online and enter the realtor’s name or license number to determine if they have the proper credentials to be a licensed real estate agent in Texas. In addition to checking the licensing, it can be a good idea to see if they have any additional certifications. Any certifications they have received can point to specific expertise in the subject. For example, many realtors attain certifications in Luxury Homes to broaden their knowledge and skills. You should also check if a realtor has been recognized by their peers in the industry for their work. An award-winning realtor can assure you that they have the proven credentials to buy or sell your home in Aledo, TX!
3. Check their website
After making sure that the realtor is licensed and certified, you next want to visit their website. At least 69% of real estate agents utilize a website to showcase their business, so the prospective realtor will likely have one too. There are a few things to consider when evaluating a realtor’s website. First, you want to make sure that it is professional. A professionally designed website indicates that the realtor is tech-savvy and can navigate the digital marketing sphere. In addition, you also want to see if the realtor has published any neighborhood guides or blogs on their website. Besides providing you with localized information, it can also indicate the depth of the realtor’s knowledge.
Another section you want to check on any realtor’s website is testimonials. Reading testimonials can be a great way to find out past clients’ experiences with the buying and selling process. Past clients might also give hints as to the personality of the realtor that can be used to help you determine if they would be a good fit.
The last thing you should check is the current listings on the realtor’s website. The number of current listings can indicate how extensive their area is. It can also show how the Aledo homes for sale are presented. If you are in the market to sell your Aledo real estate, you can browse the current listings to see how other similar homes have been staged. You can expect the same design quality if you work with that realtor. As for buyers, browsing current listings can be a great tool to determine what style of homes are available within the realtor’s area. If these homes align with your lifestyle, then there is a good chance that they might be able to find the perfect one for you!
4. Interview three potential candidates
After you have narrowed down your list to about three potential realtors, the next step is to meet them in person. Meeting them in person is the best way to find out if you have great synergy with the realtor. In addition, meeting them in person lets you know if what you have read in the testimonials matches up with what you see. Remember that the home buying or selling process can be pretty extensive. You will likely spend up to a year buying or selling a home. That is why you need to find a realtor with whom you would not mind spending that time. They are your business consultant, marketing associate, interior designer, and confidant. Look for someone you wouldn’t mind sharing a cup of coffee or tea with every week. Furthermore, you want someone who believes in you and is willing to fight to help you achieve the desired real estate outcome. Once you have found that particular person, you can easily navigate the buying or selling process!
5. Ask for references
After the interview, you should ask for references. Any reputable realtor should be able to provide a list of at least three references, such as past clients, mortgage lenders, real estate attorneys, and even other realtors. You can then call these references to ask about their professional relationship with the realtor. They can also be a way to get a second (or third) opinion on the prospective realtor. Asking for references is akin to dotting your i’s and crossing your t’s. It is the final way to check that the realtor can perform the job description and, most importantly, help you achieve your desired real estate goals!
Interested in buying or selling a home in Aledo, TX, or the surrounding areas? Then, schedule a consultation with real estate agent Rees Atkins and his team of experts at the Rees & Piper Team! Rees and his team of experts can help streamline the real estate process, guiding you on everything from the local market to effective negotiation strategies. The Rees & Piper Team can help you find your dream home or sell one for top dollar!
