Qualities to look for when selecting a Realtor

Selecting a Realtor is a pivotal part of buying or selling a home. This is the person that is going to represent you or your offer, so they need to be on top of things.

But what qualities should a Realtor have?

We asked around to get some expert insight.

Shawn Kunkler of Compass said to begin by looking at the agent’s experience and profile.

“Past performance is the best data point for likely future performance. Use the agent’s track record as a start point,” he said.

It’s important to have a rapport with your agent, as you will be in constant communication during a stressful process. At the same time, Anne Lawrence of Vanguard Properties suggests avoiding the temptation to choose someone close to you just because they’re a friend.

“Unfortunately, most buyers go to a friend,” she said.

The key to finding an agent is through oldfashioned research, Lawrence said.

The best way of selecting an agent is to look at the profiles of several brokerage houses and agent profiles and then make a few calls to find out if this agent is a good fit,” she said.

There’s no substitute for experience and expertise, said Jeff LaMont of Coldwell Banker.

“You want to be sure you choose a local, experienced agent who knows the local market conditions, the agent community and local customs,” he said. “There’s nothing worse than listing your home with an outofarea agent who is out of his or her element, and does not know the market values or customs in the area.”

One way to research your Realtor is to ask for letters of recommendation, he said.

Once knowledge, experience and references have been established, what’s most important in selecting a real estate agent is integrity, said Pablo Wong of Keller Williams Realty.

It’s also vital that the agent have the bandwidth and energy for your transaction. Only trust an agent who can handle the workload, he said.

“Home buyers and sellers want to work with an agent that has their best interest at heart. They may not care how good or knowledgeable the agent is until they know how much the agent cares,” Wong said.

Shutterstock Above: Choosing the right Realtor is vital when buying or selling a home. Below: Select a Realtor with expertise and experience in the local market for the best results.