Choosing the wrong real estate agent can cost you thousands of dollars on your next sale or purchase. They may list during an inopportune time or misprice the property. The agent may also not be familiar with your neighborhood.
As such, it’s important to have a thorough vetting process when you’re looking for real estate agents in Kensington. Don’t settle for the first one you see instead of shopping around.
Here’s how to find the best brokers in your area so you can get the best deal on your new home.
Compare Online
The very first step is also the most accessible one. Do a search online for “selling my home” or “homes for sale”, and compare the top real estate agents in your area.
Websites like Zillow have agent finder tools that allow you to quickly compare agents and the number of homes they’ve sold. You can search through their reviews to look for any red flags as well as what areas they specialize in.
Some websites allow you to directly message agents, while others will link you to their professional websites.
Keep in mind that online reviews are not without their problems. For one, most people will only leave reviews if they had a very good experience or a bad one. It’s also possible that the individual has paid for fake reviews to boost their rating.
Get a Referral From Friends and Family
The next best way to find real estate agents in Kensington is through your own personal network. People you know have likely had some experience selling or buying homes in your area. You can ask them what realtors they’ve had the best time working with and which ones they either avoided or wish they had.
One of the benefits of utilizing your friends and family is that they won’t be afraid to go into detail about a realtor. You can learn anything from how hard the realtor is to get in touch with to how quickly they managed to sell a property.
Scope Out Local Agents
There’s a chance that you don’t know many people who have worked with real estate agents in the past. In that case, you can look for local agents by taking a drive around your town or city.
The main ways you’ll find real estate agents on the streets will come in the form of billboard signs or for-sale signs. You may also stumble upon an open house and get the opportunity to meet an agent in person. If you’re looking for a new home to buy, you may be able to kill two birds with one stone.
Always try to find at least three agents you want to follow up with to increase your odds of landing a good deal.
Do a Consultation
Once you know which real estate agents you want to focus on, try to set up a time for a consultation call or visit. This may or may not involve them visiting your property to see it firsthand.
When you sell a house with a real estate agent, you need to trust them. This is the time to learn whether or not that is possible.
Ask questions such as how long they’ve been working in real estate and how many properties they’ve sold so far. Do they primarily deal in residential real estate, or do they also handle commercial properties? Are they part of a team, and will you deal with the agent directly throughout the process?
Check Their Qualifications
While you’re interviewing a potential realtor, try to check their qualifications. At the bare minimum, they must have passed the Maryland real estate salesperson examination and received their license with the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation.
Past that, you should know if you’re working with a broker or a realtor. Realtors work under brokers, while brokers often have agents working for them.
Look up how many years they’ve been working in your area as well as any commendations they’ve received.
Request References
It’s okay to request information from agents on their past sales, including contact information for recent clients. If you manage to reach their past clients, you can ask them about their experiences with the agent and details about the process.
Remember that your real estate agent probably won’t connect you with anyone who had a negative experience with them. Take everything you hear with a grain of salt.
Read Your Contract
Before you sign anything, read through your contract with your agent. It should include things like the real estate commission and how long the contract will last.
Normally, the seller pays the commission. This is around 6 percent of the total sale price. You may be able to negotiate this rate.
As for the length of the contract, try to aim for something shorter than six months. It shouldn’t take much longer than a few months to sell your home.
Go With Your Gut
Finally, pay attention to how you feel about the people you meet with. If you get a bad impression from an agent, then chances are good that potential buyers will feel the same.
You need to be able to trust this person with your property. They may need to visit your house when you’re not there or take photos of your property. If you don’t feel right with them, then you can always request a different agent or pick one of your different options.
Quality Real Estate Agents in Kensington
Finding the best real estate agents in Kensington shouldn’t be difficult as long as you know what to look for. You need someone personable, qualified, and experienced. On top of that, they should be a local who knows the area and has built up trust with the people.
If you want to hire one of the best brokers in Kensington, contact Brett McCurdy. He can help you with buying, selling, and investing in real estate. Contact Brett today to get started with your next transaction.