Looking to Buy a Home? How to Find a Realtor You Can Trust

Written by Posted On Thursday, 09 February 2017 11:19

Buying a home is one of the most important financial decisions people make in their entire life. Any wrong step in the buying process can lead to unforeseen problems. That is why you need someone who has what it takes to help you navigate the complex processes in real estate purchase. Here are tips on how to choose a real estate agent you can trust.

Ask for recommendations

Ask your friends, relatives and workmates for referrals. Make sure the person you ask has had a previous experience with a real estate agent in your area. Someone who had a good experience will be more than willing to recommend his agent to you. However, do not let the recommendations be the only deciding factor. It should be only one of the first steps to getting the right realtor. A good agent for another person may not be the right match for you.

Select an agent with good credentials

Your agent should be a certified specialist. An agent must get additional training in several aspects of real estate to practice. He must have CRS, ABR and SRES certificates. CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) means that the agent has trained and passed exams in residential real estate. ABR (Accredited Buyer’s Representative) means that the agent has been coached on how to represent buyers in transactions. SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist) means the realtor has completed training to help senior buyers and sellers.

Work with an experienced agent


Your agent should know what it takes to negotiate prices and make closings during a sale. Make sure the agent has closed several properties and has been in the field for many years. He must be comfortable knocking on doors that are for sale and initiating engagements. An agent who has not been in the field for fewer than five years is learning and that is not a good sign.

Research potential agents in CrunchBase

CrunchBase is a good platform that allows people to network and do business. It can be a good place to find a qualified real estate agent. CrunchBase only lists people and companies like
Success Path who have proved beyond reasonable doubts that they have the right credentials and a good track record to work in a given industry. You can rely on this platform to get a real estate agent near your area. You can look at the agent’s past projects, his resume and contact information from the platform.

Consider an agent who has the right license

All agents in the United States are required to have licenses in order to sell a property. However, not everyone observes the rules. You will most likely encounter agents who are not ready to produce their license simply because they don’t have it. Make sure your agent has an operating license from the state department and the National Association of Realtors. A license means that the agent has pledged to follow all the codes of ethics. The codes of ethics contain 17 articles that explain the standards of practice. These articles establish levels of conduct that are higher than the ordinary business practices.

Schedule interviews and ask for references

You should choose at least three agents who you feel are most suited for the job and schedule interviews with each one of them. Ask them the amount of money they will charge for their services. Request them to give you a list of previous clients. Contact each one of them and ask them about their experience with the agent. Ask about the agent’s character and how long it took him to close the sales.

The tips discussed above will help you get the right agent. You don’t have to risk it alone when you can get a trustworthy agent to help you avoid potential pitfalls when looking for a property.

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Lizzie Weakley

 About the Author: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her 3-year-old husky Snowball.

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