How to Find a Great Realtor?

Susan Fazio April 19, 2018

Buying or selling a house can be a trying experience, but a great realtor can make it a smoother and easier experience. An experienced, top rated professional realtor can make a big difference. So how do you find a great realtor? While there is no perfect formula, here are some factors to consider in finding a great realtor:  
  • Experience and credentials
  • Local knowledge and connection to the community
  • Solid references, referrals, and reviews
  • Honesty and professionalism
  • Personable and caring
  Let’s look at some questions to ask when evaluating a potential realtor to find a great one.   Experience and credentials One of the first questions to ask a realtor you are considering is what experience do they have in your market? An experienced realtor will be able to provide you with insights beyond those just stated in the listing. Is this a career or a part time job for them?  A career realtor is more focused on successful transactions and satisfying clients because they rely on your referrals and repeat business in the future. Do they focus on listing, buying, selling? Ideally, they have broad experience in all areas and know how to navigate and guide you through the process. Other questions to ask about experience would be What certifications do they have? Have they done extensive professional development? How many years have they been in the business? How many transactions have they completed?   Local knowledge and connections to the community Why are local knowledge and connections important? Because great realtors should be a resource to you beyond the real estate transaction. A great realtor possessing local knowledge and connections to the community should be able to point you to quality local contractors such as plumbers, electricians, painters, landscapers and more. Beyond resources for your home, a great realtor can share information on local service providers such as: stores, hair salons, gyms, tutors, nannies, utilities, and more. Finally, a great realtor can share insights into community services such schools, libraries, places of worship, and more. Don’t be afraid to ask for specifics including names and phone numbers.   Solid references, referrals, and reviews A great realtor takes pride in their reputation and won’t be offended if you ask for references. They also won’t have a problem pointing you to online reviews. Consider asking them for two or three references of people they have worked with in the community you are interested in. Furthermore, ask them for references that where buying or selling like you are. Don’t be surprised if a great realtor asks you for referrals after successfully assisting you with your home sale or purchase.   Honesty and professionalism You should be evaluating a realtor’s honesty and professionalism. Ask them how they handle problems and challenges in the process. Everyone loves to report good news, but sometimes there are bumps in the road—ask your realtor how they break bad news. You should also be considering how they communicate, if they are accessible, and how they approach protecting their clients in the process of buying or selling a home.   Personable and caring This one is tougher to judge, but a great realtor tends to be very personable and caring about their clients. They don’t look at doing business with you as simply a transaction, they look at building a long-term relationship with you that might include referrals and repeat business. You should ask them how often they receive referrals from clients, and how many clients they have worked with more than once. So there you have it—a way to find a great realtor to help you transition into or out of a home.   About Susan Fazio With twenty years of real estate sales experience and an award-winning career as a top local realtor, Susan’s expertise has led her to be named a top agent in all of Somerset County. Susan covers Somerset and Morris counties in Central New Jersey, specializing in the Basking Ridge/Bernards Township, Bernardsville, Bedminster, Warren Township, Peapack-Gladstone, Far Hills, Mendham, Harding Township, and Bridgewater communities. She lists and sells in all price ranges from condos to luxury homes and is available to you 24/7 to answer questions and assist in accomplishing your real estate goals. Susan Fazio can be reached at: Mobile Phone:  (908) 625-8603 Work Phone:  (908) 766-0085  ext. 1030 Fax Number:  (908) 766-2254 Email: susanfazio@kw.com

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