5The first step you should take when trying to sell your home, or when you’re looking to move into a new neighborhood, is hiring a good real estate agent. A top quality agent will make the entire buying/selling process easier and more successful for you.
With so many choices out there, it may be difficult to know which agent is the best for you. While there are different features that appeal to different people, here are 5 tips for choosing the best real estate agents.

1. Check for Client Reviews
The best way to gauge how successful your agent will be with you is to see how they’ve been in the past. Unless you want to take a chance on a rookie agent, you’ll want to hire an agent with extensive reviews. These agents are not only very experienced, but they’re also a proven force in the industry.
There are many ways to ask about client reviews. You may want to check their profiles on Zillow, like this one on Drew Fasy, or you may be able to even ask the agent themselves.

2. Check for Disciplinary Records
The last thing you want to be stuck with is an agent that has had disciplinary complications in the past. These agents may try to use shady practices to gain a leg up and may end up leaving you in some hot water.
If you want to avoid these situations, look up state information on the agents you’re considering. You will be able to verify their license and look up disciplinary records fairly quickly.

3. Look for the Right Credentials
Different real estate agents have different credentials which show off which branch of real estate they excel at. The SRES designation demonstrates specialty in senior citizen real estate, while the ABR demonstrates talent in representing buyers on the market.

4. Gauge the Agent’s Knowledge
A good agent will not have to do research every time you ask them a question about the area. The agents you’re looking for will have knowledge on local schools, other listings, and general trends wherever you’re looking.
Good real estate agents serve the areas that they know and know the areas that they serve. In order to test that, you may want to bring up a recent house sale in the area. If they are knowledgeable on that sale, you can be sure that you’ve found the right person for the job.

5. Find Someone that Wants to Serve You, Not Themselves
The best real estate agents will put their commission checks second and your interests first. They will stick with you throughout the process and fight for you on every issue.
If you can find an agent that makes that a tenant of their philosophy, you can be sure you will get the best result possible!
Finding the Best Real Estate Agents
Finding good real estate agents may be difficult, but it is a major key to the process. If you can find a good agent, you will know that a lot of the weight will be off your shoulders.
For more articles about realty and the buying and selling process, be sure to visit our website!