This article was updated on August 15, 2019.
When you choose to sell your home, you will need to pick the best real estate agent available so that your house does not sit on the market for longer than it should. Choosing a real estate agent can be difficult, but these are five qualities you should look for in a real estate agent.
1. Expertise
Selling lake homes is very different from selling off-lake properties. Make sure the agent you choose to work with is a lake expert who knows the lake, shoreline restrictions, water levels, and nearby attractions.
2. Communication
You’d be surprised to hear of how many bad experiences buyers have had with agents who could not communicate. In addition to being knowledgeable, your agent should be an excellent communicator who keeps you up-to-date with each step of your transaction’s process.
3. Integrity
You can tell a lot about a real estate agent by reading testimonials from past clients. You may find that the agent you are interested in may not be as honest as they appear to be. So, you will also need to make sure the agent is honest with you.
You will need them to be honest and brave enough to tell you the truth about the property. You may want to sell your home for $400k, but the agent knows it will only sell for $300k you want them to be upfront with this information.
Remember, candor denotes trust.
4. Schedule
Real estate can be an extremely demanding business. The real estate agent you choose to work with should be able to manage their schedule efficiently.
If a buyer only has a specific window of time during which they can view a property, you need to be confident that your agent will be on time to the showing.
5. Industry Knowledge
Your agent should have extensive knowledge of the local market. The agent should be intimately familiar with state and local real estate laws, the home selling process, and every aspect of the real estate game.
Such knowledge is crucial to ensuring that there are no omitted details in contracts and other aspects of the sale of your home.
It is also important that you meet your agent in person and ask for a portfolio. Do not be shy to ask questions or vet multiple real estate agents.
It is your home and your money that they are responsible for in the end. Do plenty of online research and make sure you find a qualified lake expert agent to help you through the process.