Selling or buying a home is one of the biggest transactions you’ll ever make. Your sale or purchase comes with significant legal and financial repercussions. As such, you need enough planning and understanding before finalising the transaction. One person who will be at the heart of this whole process is your real estate agent. (1)
Finding the right real estate consultant is a big decision, and it’s not as easy as you think. With the market filled with many prospective professionals in this area, it can be challenging to decide on a candidate that meets all the standards.
Are you in search of the best real estate agents Melbourne? This article will discuss all the factors you should consider in your decision-making.
Ask your friends and family
The first thing you should do is ask for recommendations from your friends and family. If you know someone who successfully purchased or sold their property within the past few weeks or months, be sure to approach them. Inquire about the agent they hired and their overall experience throughout the process.
Also, if you’ve had a good experience with another agent but currently live outside their area, you should ask them for recommendations. Real estate agents Melbourne always have a network, and it’d be easier for a fellow professional to pinpoint the best one in a given region. After collecting as many names and contacts as possible, you can move to the next step.
Conduct thorough research
The praises shown on these agents by former clients or fellow experts shouldn’t be enough for you to make your final decision. Use this information as the basis of your research. Reading online reviews, visiting their websites, previous results, and checking out their credentials should be your priority as you try to find the best person for the job.
If you don’t have any recommendations from your friends or family, then this is also the time for you to generate a list of names. It’s recommended that you prioritise experts from within your area because they understand the local market. For instance, real estate agents Melbourne have a database of potential buyers within Melbourne who might be interested in your property. As such, they’ll be able to sell your house quicker than an agent from a different city. (2)
Assess your options
Once you’ve researched all your options, you can now go ahead and assess them through one-on-one interviews. Of course, this process will likely take a lot of your time, but it’s an essential step toward any successful property sale or purchase. These interviews are crucial because you don’t only get to learn about the agent’s qualifications but also their communication skills. How they answer your questions gives you an idea of how your relationship will pan out going forward.
To get the best out of these meetings, you’ll need a list of questions to ask the real estate agents Melbourne. Make sure you ask questions relevant to your property and target the information you’ve already collected about these professionals. Here are a few of them:
- How long have you been in the field?
- Within which neighbourhoods have you closed most of your purchases or sales?
- What percentage of your clients are buyers or sellers?
- Have you sold a property similar to mine before?
- Do you work alone or as a team?
- How long does it take you to close a deal?
(3)
These questions are meant to show the agent’s experience and ability to close deals, especially those similar to yours. Inquiring about the percentage of clients who are either buyers or sellers gives you an idea of the candidate’s specialties. If you’re selling, you should team up with real estate agent Melbourne whose percentage of sellers is higher than the buyers.
Conclusion
The real estate industry continues to grow with more people looking to buy their first homes, upgrade to bigger ones, or invest in the property market. As a seller or buyer, you might have an idea of how this field works, but it’d be prudent to have an expert beside you. That’s what real estate agents Melbourne brings to the table.
However, with many potential candidates for the job, it can be challenging to decide who fits the bill perfectly. With the tips provided in this article, you can find the right person to represent throughout the process. To find the best agent, you can begin to ask your friends, do your research and finally interview all the candidates. Use their answers to assess their experience and ability to deliver the desired results.
References
- “The Top 5 Reasons To Choose A Real Estate Agent.”, Source: https://www.thebalance.com/top-reasons-to-hire-a-real-estate-agent-1798906
- “Why You Need An Experienced Real Estate Agent.”, Source: https://www.thebalance.com/experienced-real-estate-agents-1798883
- “How To Vet A Real Estate Agent: 10 Questions To Ask Before Hiring Them.”, Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/trulia/2014/02/04/how-to-vet-a-real-estate-agent-10-questions-to-ask-before-hiring/?sh=2c089efb700e
