When you’re buying or selling a home, hiring the right realtor is of the utmost importance. Real estate represents a large financial investment or profit, depending on which side of the fence you’re on. Whether you’re a first-time buyer looking for a starter home, or you’re selling the family home and moving to a condo, it’s important to do your research.

A great way to find a good realtor is by word of mouth. Your friends and co-workers may have an agent they highly recommend. Before you commit to a real estate agent, you should always interview them first to ensure it will be a good business match for everyone. The following five questions are an excellent way to quickly determine if you want to move forward to work with the realtor.

Experience and Background

The first question to ask the agent is how long they’ve been in the business. The length of time in the field isn’t as important as their dedication and enthusiasm, but it will give you a background from which to work from. You should ask about the realtor’s credentials and verify their license number.

Realtor Fees

Some real estate agents charge more than others. It’s okay to be upfront with the question “how much do you charge?” After all, it’s coming out of your pocket. You should expect a higher fee for the more experienced agents.

Important Statistics

If a realtor claims they are experienced, but their sales for the year are low, then there might be a problem. However, if the agent is new or specializes in high-value real estate, then you may want to take this into consideration. Ask to see their average for closing on home purchases, which is a good way to see just how efficient they are when it comes to handling paperwork and negotiations.

Strategies and Tools

Your realtor should be taking advantage of digital and social platforms. If you’re selling your home, then it’s important to know how your property will be marketed. For buyers, you need to understand what methods the agent will use to find you viable properties, and what kind of network they already have in place.

Communication Style

Buying and selling a home is exciting and stressful, and you need an agent who’s dedicated to your quest. Ask the agent how they will communicate with you and how often, so that you won’t be left out of the loop. Need help finding homes for sale all of Bucks County? Call me.