You are finally going to make that long-awaited move to a warmer climate, and you want to make sure that your real estate agent is the best in the business. After all, you’ll be entrusting them with the most important purchase of your life. You need someone who is knowledgeable, reliable, and able to provide excellent guidance at any given time.
How do you go about finding the right real estate agent in Sarasota, FL? What are the important questions that you need to ask? Is it better to work with an agent who is a member of a professional organization, such as the Real Estate Agents’ Association of America? How about an agent who is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Club? You want to work with someone who has extensive experience in the industry and can give you sound advice on how to make the right choice.
When choosing a real estate agent in Sarasota, FL, you need to consider a number of factors. This article will advise you of how to find the right agent for you.
Know What To Look For
One of the first things that you should do is to try and find out what the market value of your home is. You should not try and sell your home for more than what it is worth. On the other hand, you should not sell it for less than what you are willing to accept. The challenge here is to find the right balance between being aggressive and being realistic. You do not want to sell your home for less than what you are willing to accept because you might end up in a situation where you have to purchase another property. On the other hand, you do not want to sell it for more than what it is worth because you might end up losing out on additional profit.
Another important factor to consider is the type of properties that your agent should be familiar with. It would be best to go with a real estate agent who has extensive knowledge of the single-family residential market in your area. Familiarity with different types of properties (i.e. villas, castles, farm homes, etc.) will also be beneficial in case you decide to sell or purchase a certain type of property.
Make Sure They Are A Member Of Good Standing
You should also verify that the Real Estate Agent in Sarasota, FL is a member of the Real Estate Agents’ Association of America and is fully insured. Being a member of this organization will provide you with some peace of mind knowing that your agent is covered should anything happen. You can also ask to see their license as well as the proof of their insurance. If you are not sure about the legal situation in your area, then it might be a good idea to contact the state bar association or the insurance department in your area for clarification. They should also be able to provide you with a certificate of insurance showing the agent’s professional liability insurance coverage.
Look For Signs Of Wavering Focus
When choosing an agent, you need to make sure that they have the focus that you are looking for. It would be best to work with someone who has extensive experience in the real estate industry and can provide you with sound advice at any given time. Having said that, you also need to be careful not to work with someone who is easily distracted and unable to provide you with constant reliable guidance. You should look for signs of whether or not your agent has the ability to remain completely focused on your needs. One way to find out if they are fully committed to your cause is to meet with them in person and have a face-to-face conversation. You can also ask them detailed questions about the types of clients that they typically work with. For example, do they mostly work with first-time home buyers? Second home owners? Married couples? Students? People who are downsizing? Are there a lot of foreign clients who speak English as a second language? You get the idea.
Check Their References
It is also a good idea to contact previous clients and get their opinion regarding the quality of the service that they received. You should try and work with someone who has a good track record of providing excellent service to previous clients. Checking out their references is one way to find out how others feel about the service that they received from this particular agent (or any real estate agent for that matter).
Do They Have A Realistic View Of The Market?
Your agent should also have a good understanding of the current market conditions in your area. In other words, they should know the asking price of similar types of properties and be able to give you a good estimate as to what you should expect to sell your property for. A good Real Estate Agent in Sarasota, FL will also be able to provide you with a realistic idea of just how much competition there is out there for homes similar to yours.
In general, you should look for someone who has a balanced approach to solving problems. You want to work with someone who has extensive knowledge of the industry and can provide you with sound advice, but who also has a realistic view of the market and can point out areas where you might be able to improve your property to make it more appealing to potential buyers.
Consider All The C’s (Credit, Clients, Commission)
Before making a decision, you should also ask yourself if you are truly comfortable working with this particular agent. It is important to consider all the C’s (credit, clients, commission) because you want to make sure that you are not getting involved with anyone who might end up breaking your heart. For instance, are you ready to take on a credit in case they do not deliver on their promises? Do you want to entrust your most important purchase to someone who might end up taking advantage of you? Are you feeling safe with this particular agent? Consider all the C’s before coming to any sort of conclusion because, in the end, it is you who will have to live with the results of your decision. Your wallet will not thank you if you make the wrong choice!
In summary, when trying to find the right agent in Sarasota, FL, you should first try and determine the market value of your home. Does your agent specialize in a certain type of home (i.e. waterfront property, mansion, etc.)? Is it better to work with an agent who is a member of a professional organization (i.e. REALTORS®, Sotheby’s International Realty, etc.)? What are your most important considerations when choosing an agent? As you can see, there are many factors that you need to think about before making a decision.