Essential Questions to Ask When Choosing a Realtor

Whether you are making your first real estate transaction or you have been around for a while, you are aware of the importance of real estate agents. You know that finding the right realtor can ensure a smooth process, but there is a huge number of them in the market. How can you find the best one who can see to your needs? When you are in the process of sorting out the good agents from the bad ones, here are some essential questions you should ask the realtors:

How long have you been a realtor? 

Regardless of where you look, you will find a horde of real estate agents. For instance, there is a huge list of realtors in Guelph, Ontario, but it is ideal for you to work with someone experienced, especially if you don’t have any real estate knowledge. Yes, experience cannot equal success, but this business is based on commission and this means that someone who offers awful service will not be able to survive in it for long. An experienced realtor has handled different situations and this means they will not be rattled by any bumps you may encounter along the road.

How many clients do you take on average? 

Why is this question necessary? It is because you want to be the focus on your real estate agent. You don’t want to be tossed aside because your realtor is busy dealing with a dozen other clients. If the agent you are considering has a high volume of clients, ask them point blank on how they intend to give you attention. There is no harm in asking questions before you hire someone. If they don’t work out, there are plenty of Guelph realtors or those in other areas you can look at.

What specialties do you have? 

Just like real estate agents, realtors also have specialties. Even general agents do get some training for some areas. For instance, there are agents who have designations like CRS i.e. Certified Residential Specialists, SRES i.e. Senior Real Estate Specialist and ABR, i.e. Accredited Buyer’s Representative. These indicate the special training they have received. You can opt for a realtor who specializes in the area you are interested in.

Can you provide references? 

Never go for an agent who cannot provide you with references and yet claims to have a lot of experience. Their inability to provide references could mean one of two things. First, they are either lying about the experience or they were unable to satisfy their clients so they cannot give references. If they do give you references, be sure to check them out properly and don’t get them just for form’s sake.

What area do you cover? 

Ask the agent about the areas they cover to ensure they work in the regions you are interested in. You will know if they work in a specific area or cover a large ground and this can tell you about the opportunities you will have.