The biggest hurdle homeowners endure when house shopping isn’t finding a home — it’s finding a reliable real estate agent. We see their faces plastered all over town; on billboards, on commercials, and all over social media. But just because a real estate agent is great at advertising doesn’t mean they’re great at their job. One of the main reasons why finding a valuable real estate agent is a hassle is because no one really knows what a great real estate agent entails. So we’re boiling down the qualities you should find in a real estate agent.

Here are 10 qualities to look for in a real estate agent.

1. Look Up Reviews

This is the classic way of gauging a realtor’s reputation. If they were great, they will likely have great reviews. But if not, well you’ll read their reviews and will find out.

The main piece of advice when reading reviews is to keep an open mind. Some customers are too hard to please and will always find the negatives in everything.

Read multiple reviews, ideally pages of them, and weigh out the good and bad reviews.

2. Check Their License

The only way a person can (legally) sell a home is if they are licensed by the state. But you’ll be shocked how many scammers are out there. Some agents may also be licensed but have disciplinary complaints with the board.If you’re suspicious of an agent, you can easily check with your state if they’re licensed or not. You can also find any complaints or discipline issues. Some of these facts may even be available online.

3. See If They Have Any Awards

If a realtor received any awards, this is probably a good sign they’re a great realtor.These awards are awarded by either the state, their branch, or even organizations such as the National Association of Realtors. They signify their hard work and their realty talent.

Even peer-given awards mean they’re a respected realtor. They’re sponsored by those in their industry and their peers will gladly endorse and acknowledge their work.

4. Find Extra Credentials

Realtors can get training in specific areas, especially in specialty niches. If you’re looking for a specific property, such as commercial space, find a realtor with credentials to sell those properties.Here are some common certifications a realtor may have:

• CRS (Certified Residential Specialist): has additional training in a residential real estate.
• ABR (Accredited Buyer’s Representative): has additional training in assisting buyer transactions.
• SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist): has training helping buyers and sellers aged 50+.

How do you know they received this accreditation? Take a look at their name. An acronym after their name signifies additional training and accreditation.

5. Find Out Their Experience

You don’t want the office intern helping you buy a house. This is why you should always check the experience of a prospective real estate agent.The best way to find out is by asking the agent personally. You can easily look up this information online or contact the state and find records.It’s recommended you find a realtor with at least five years of experience. Make sure they have experience buying and selling in the specific area you’re looking for.

6. Look at Their Current Listings

The best way to gauge a realtor’s performance is by looking at the other houses they’re selling. Check their listings. They usually offer them on their website or on third-party realty websites.When studying their listings, you’re checking for one of two things:

• If the homes they sell are compatible to the one you want
• If they utilize different listing and marketing resources

That is a good sign they can do the job well and can find a home you’ll love.

7. Ask About Their Knowledge of the Area

If you have a location in mind, ask how many properties are for sale in that area. See if the agent has a number or some sort of a figure off the top of their heads.Better yet, do some research on your own. Mention a house for sale in a certain area, and give names such as a street or community name. See if the realtor knows the house you’re talking about.

8. Research Everything About the Realtor

Before calling to schedule a consultation, do your research about the realtor. Find the agent in a director and check their credentials, their licensing, and all of their reviews.You should keep a list of different agents you like and boil your list down to one.

9. Word of Mouth

There’s a reason why word of mouth marketing is one of the most effective strategies today.When you get a word of recommendation from someone you trust, then that’s the only justification you need. Your best bet is if you know any professionals in the real estate industry.

10. They Do Real Estate Full-Time

Realty is a very flexible business. Many people sell houses in their spare time as an easy way to make money. Other professionals do real estate part-time for other reasons, such as raising a family.This doesn’t mean they’re a bad realtor. But they may not be as knowledgeable or experienced as other realtors.A full-time realtor knows how to find houses on the market for the best price in the best location. A part-time realtor may not be able to work as effectively.

Use These Tips to Find a Real Estate Agent

When finding a real estate agent, it’s integral you find someone you can trust.

There are many amazing agents out there but also some shady ones.Your best bet is finding an agent with knowledge and the highest credentials. If not, then you can get the shortest end of the stick in your home transaction.Use these tips to find the best real estate agent.Are you looking for a house in either Phoenix or Chandler? Schedule a consultation.