A lot of people ask me how to choose a Realtor and if they should be working with a Solo Agent or working with a Real Estate Team.
As with many professions, there are all kinds of Realtors out there, some are great, others are not so great – so I’ve created this video to give you some pointers on what to look for!
There are many types of Realtors out there. Some work by themselves, others work with a team, some have been in the business 30 years, and some are just starting out. We could touch on a lot of factors but today’s focus is going to be on how to FIND your Realtor and whether or not you should hire a SOLO Realtor or a Real Estate Team!
Referrals
One of the best ways of hiring ANY professional for that matter, is by referral! When someone you know and trust had an amazing experience with their Realtor, wouldn’t you want to know? This can definitely save you a lot of time and effort! If you know someone who has bought or sold recently, ask about their experience! Was their Realtor a total Rockstar or were they a total letdown? This is always a great place to start!
If You’re New to the Area
What if you don’t know anyone who has bought or sold? If you are moving to a new area, this is often the case! If this is you, then the next best way of finding your Realtor would be to find the local expert! Who’s the local kingpin who has his or her signs up everywhere and who pops up at the top of the list on Google and Facebook when you search?! Chances are, if they are doing that much business and have for sale signs everywhere then they probably know a thing or two about Real Estate in your area!
Now you’ve identified maybe a few Realtors in your area and now it’s time to pick one!
How Do I Pick a Realtor?
First of all, does your Realtor work by themselves, or do they work with a TEAM? As many of you know there are lots of top agents out there who choose to work by themselves and there are also top agents who work with or as part of a TEAM! What does this mean for YOU the client! Which option would be better?
Well this depends on many things and the truth is there isn’t really one best answer, but here’s some ideas to consider!
For agents that work by themselves, it means you will likely be dealing with them for the entire process. This means it will be the same person listing your home, same person showing you properties, same person responding to your emails, same person answering your phone calls. Now this might sound good on the surface, because you know who to expect for every part of the process but let’s say your realtor is a busy one, will they always have time to promptly get back to you? Can they show you property when it works for YOU and YOUR schedule? Often times this can be an issue, because remember you aren’t their only client. If you are working with a solo Realtor these are definitely questions you’ll want to ask.
Now for the agents that work with a TEAM, this means you’ll likely be working with different team members for different parts of the sale or purchase. You would likely deal with one agent for the SALE of your home and ANOTHER agent for the PURCHASE of your new home! You would likely have showings on your house booked through a dedicated assistant or client care manager. Your MLS listing could also be marketed by a dedicated marketing agent, when it comes to having it posted on different social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
You essentially have MORE professionals at your disposal. You want to see property at 315PM on a Friday afternoon, no problem. It’s 8pm on a Sunday night and you need an urgent question answered? No problem. You need to make a last minute change to your Open House schedule, no problem, because there’s always a team member available.
As you can see, often times working with a TEAM vs an individual can be a huge benefit!
I hope you guys found this video helpful, and as always if you have any questions or comments please give me a call or email anytime.