How to Find an Excellent Real Estate Agent - What to Ask, Where to Look

If you are preparing for a new chapter in your homeownership story, you might be wondering how to find the right real estate agent to guide you. There are a number of factors to consider as you look for the right agent to partner with.

If you’re buying or selling a home in Chicago or Jackson Hole real estate, you’ve come to the right place — the Icuss Group is ready to guide you to success. Read on for top-notch advice to feel confident that you’ve found the right professional to represent you.

Most real estate seekers will begin their search for a real estate agent through online avenues. Perusing agents’ websites can tell you more about their experience and the variety of services that they offer.

In addition, you can often read reviews from past clients on their websites, but remember that, typically, agents will only post testimonials that are positive. If you want to get a more complete picture of the kind of experience others have had when working with a particular agent, you can explore third-party sites and search engines to read reviews.

Perhaps you have friends or family who moved recently or worked with an agent in the past. They can speak directly about the kind of service and expertise that a particular agent will provide.

Hearing about their first-hand experiences can be a great way to learn about potential agents in your area and know what to expect. You’ll have greater peace of mind that you’re working with a great agent because they were recommended by a trusted friend or family member that you know well.

Once you’ve found an agent you might want to move forward with, it’s important to ask them several questions to get a more thorough sense of their level of professionalism and communication styles. You want to inquire about their experience in the local housing market and whether or not they have connections with other professionals. If you’re selling, you should inquire about their marketing plan for getting the word out about your property. If you’re buying, you should ask how they will connect you with properties.

Overall, it’s essential to team up with someone who is competent, insightful, innovative, reliable, and highly knowledgeable about the entire real estate process from start to finish.

Asking this question will give you an idea of how active your agent has been over the past year. A full-time agent will normally close numerous sales in a year. If an agent hasn’t completed many deals in the past year, they may be in the middle of a slow season, or they may only be working in real estate on a part-time basis.

You’ll likely benefit more from working with an agent who is more active and involved with their practice. They will be more up-to-date on the recent fluctuations of the local market, and they will be better connected with other professionals in the area (such as lenders, home inspectors, other agents, appraisers, and title insurance companies) who will play a critical role in your transaction as a whole.

Of course, you’ll communicate frequently with your agent during the buying and selling process, and you want to work with someone who is easy to get in touch with. Some agents may prefer phone calls, while others might operate mainly through email or text messages. Be sure to team up with someone who meshes well with your preferred mode of communication.

In addition to asking each agent how they communicate with clients, you can also reach out to the agent by calling or texting with a specific question. Pay attention to the thoroughness of their response and how long you have to wait before you hear back. Most agents will respond within 24 hours unless there is some sort of unusual circumstance.

One of the most significant benefits of working with a local real estate agent is that you get to tap into their extensive network of professionals. This is helpful whether you are buying or selling.

If you are selling a home, your agent can spread the word about your listing to other agents in the area in order to find buyers who are looking for a home just like yours. You may be able to schedule multiple showings before your home officially hits the market simply through your agent’s connections.

If you are shopping for a home, your agent will have connections to exclusive listings, and they can pass along the information to you as they learn about new, up-and-coming homes. You’ll get a head start on other buyers, which is essential in a competitive housing market.

Before you officially begin working with an agent, if you’re selling a property, you should ask to see a listing agreement that fully outlines the responsibilities of both you and the agent. This document should include the length of time that you will agree to work together and what either side must do if they wish to terminate the agreement.

If you’re ready to buy or sell in Jackson Hole or Chicago, you want to team up with only the best. Mark Icuss of the Icuss Group is a top-tier broker who always aims for success at every point. Mark has spent nearly 25 years helping clients seamlessly make their way through the buying and selling process. Mark’s clients appreciate the opportunity to work with a broker who understands the inner workings of the highly sought-after luxury housing market. Reach out to Mark if you have more questions about how to find a real estate agent or if he can do anything to help you with your upcoming transaction.

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