What to look for in a Realtor when moving to Houston
Working with the right Realtor is one of the most critical elements for a successful relocation. This is especially true for those moving to Houston, given the enormity of the city, and the complex nature of the local real estate market.
At the very minimum, the Realtor needs to be extremely knowledgeable about the market, and be able to provide expert guidance throughout the entire home search and real estate transaction process.
According to Tess Chaney, relocation director for Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty, there are specific qualities that relocation clients should look for and expect in their agent.
This ensures that the agent has the appropriate qualifications, and will ultimately be a good fit for the client.
She said that a great place to start is by looking at the reputation of both the real estate firm and the agent in the marketplace. This goes hand-in-hand with the agent’s experience level and the number of years that the agent has been active in the market.
“When someone relocates from one part of the country to another, the reputation and consistency of a real estate brand plays into consumer confidence.
“So, one of the things that we really focus on when assigning an agent to work with a relocation client, is the agent’s activity in a particular area. We look at their sales volume and their transactions, because it’s important for the agent to have tangible experience in the particular area where the client is looking,” Chaney explained.
There are also certain professional skills that are valuable in an agent. These often include being a keen negotiator, having the ability to analyze and explain market data, being tech savvy, and having strong communication skills.
Due to the fast-paced nature of relocation, having strong communication skills is something that cannot be over-emphasized.
“Communication style is a top topic for relocation clients,” Chaney said. “Some might prefer a direct style of communication, while others might need more explanation about certain things. It’s all part of being sensitive to how the client likes to be communicated with and the way they like to have information delivered to them.”
Additionally, she said that the personality of the agent is another factor that is important in determining whether the agent is a good fit for the client.
“The family dynamic is important for making a good match between the client and the agent. It’s important for the agent to have experience in whatever personal situation the client is going through, and for the agent to have a shared hobby or interest. This makes the agent relateable to the family on a personal level,” Chaney explained.
And since relocation clients generally have a specific schedule for coming to Houston and looking for a home, they need to ensure that the agent will be available to them during that time period.
A certain degree of flexibility is also needed from the agent, just in case plans change. For example, sometimes relocation clients decide to expand their home search to different areas once they arrive in Houston, or they might adjust their price range or housing criteria.
As such, market data is a critical component in the client’s ability to evaluate different areas, properties, market conditions, and price trends. So, the agent needs to be able to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information to the client.
“The market report for the specific neighborhood tells whether the home values are appreciating or depreciating, how many months of inventory there is, and it provides details about the recent comps. All of this data enables the client to make an accurate and intelligent decision when negotiating on a property,” said Chaney.
She added that relocation clients also need to watch for any red flags that could signify that the agent might not be a good fit after all. This could be a lack of communication, or a slow response time, or feeling that the agent isn’t enthusiastic about assisting the client.
A positive attitude can go a long way and helps build excitement around the client’s move to Houston. This is especially important for those who are not familiar with Houston and might be feeling uneasy about the move.
Chaney said, “The agent needs to provide tangible activities for the client to look forward to once they get here, and talk about the many things that the city has to offer.
“It’s also important to make sure that the agent is listening to what the client is saying about what they are looking for, so that they feel confident in the agent’s ability to help them throughout the transaction.”
Michelle Sandlin is an award-winning writer, journalist and global mobility industry expert. Follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheMichelleSandlin and on Twitter: @MichelleSandlin. Also visit “On the Move” at blog.chron.com/onthemove.