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Choosing the Right Realtor for You

Buying a home is all about you! It pays to be selective and Ascend Real Estate wants to help you find the best fit for you.

Here are 4 steps to finding the right professional who will represent YOUR best interests when negotiating a home purchase:

Step 1. BE SERIOUS

Do your homework on lenders, shop around and get preapproved BEFORE you start interviewing real estate agents. Once you’re approved, your lender will give you a pre-approval letter with your qualified purchase amount and terms.  This letter tells Realtors and sellers that you are a serious qualified buyer and expedites the home buying process for you.

Step 2. RESEARCH AND REFERRALS

Start by asking the people you trust, colleagues, friends, and family which real estate agent is the best. Consider asking on social media for suggestions. Once you have a list of solid referrals, study websites, social media profiles, and read reviews. Seek out a full-time, licensed professional with many years of service. A quick internet search should reveal the kind of ongoing professional training, education, and certifications the agent has achieved. A well-connected professional will have strong ties in the community enabling an agent to negotiate effectively on your behalf.

Step 3. INTERVIEW

Ask for references from each potential buyer’s agent and follow through with calling or emailing them. A professional will gladly and readily supply references, but be leary of an agent who can’t or won’t supply references. Ask the same questions to the agent and the references. What kind of communication skills and working style does the agent use? How often will the agent communicate and through what methods? Does the agent have assistants or will you work directly with them? Ask about the agent’s approach to finding an appropriate house within your budget. Is the agent adept in handling multi-offer situations? A great agent artfully negotiates with sellers and masters competitive offers. Don’t forget to inquire about personality. A Realtor may be great at negotiating but lack the personal skills to make you feel comfortable. Consider how you and the agent interact in the interview, even if the agent has all the qualifications you are seeking, they may not be the right fit for you. A friendly relationship marked by ready communication and mutual understanding is just as important as qualifications when finding an agent you can trust to put your interests first.

Step 4. SELECT

Narrow your selection to the top two and go for the agent who you know will search for your new home daily, provide consistent communication and updates, prioritize your needs, and handle all the challenges so you can enjoy the home buying process. Now that you’ve found the one, the next step is to sign the exclusive buyer’s agent agreement. This agreement gives you peace of mind that someone is looking out for you in the home buying journey and shows your hard-working agent that you are committed to them as well.

Ascend Real Estate is here to answer all your questions. Contact one of our friendly professionals today. We look forward to talking to you.

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