Love Your Realtor

Purchasing a home is one of the most exhilarating things you’ll ever do. Picturing your life within your new home’s four walls and imagining the potential of your new location is enough to fill anyone’s mind with hope and thoughts of a bright future. Home buying can also be one of the most stressful things you’ll encounter in this lifetime. This is why partnering with a good realtor is so incredibly important. They are a strategic step on the home buying journey, one that allows you to form a lifelong relationship with someone who is intimately familiar with the home buying process and your needs as a homebuyer. 

A good realtor simplifies the home buying process for you. They go above and beyond to ensure you have everything you need to navigate pre-approvals, showings, inspections, home offers, and closing dates. Finding a realtor you love can be quite the challenge, especially as new realtors arrive on the scene almost daily. With a few tried-and-true tricks up your sleeve, you’ll be in the perfect position to find your ideal realtor match. Join Eastbrook Homes as we share some of our favorite tips for finding your perfect realtor so you can discover your dream home with comfort, enjoyment, and ease. 

Realtor Referrals

There’s a reason those gold stars on Google are so bright and easy to spot. People want to know the unbiased, real-life opinions and experiences of fellow buyers. This couldn’t be more true in the home buying world, where the stakes (and investment dollars) are higher. 

The very best thing you can do when searching for a realtor you’ll love is to ask for recommendations from those you trust. Ideally, you’ll gather thoughts from those in similar positions, with similar needs and values, and who purchased or sold a home recently. Keep in mind, you may value timeliness and responsiveness as the most important things to consider when hiring a realtor, whereas your friend may be more interested in negotiating skills. Remember to view referrals, reviews, and testimonies through your own lens of unique needs and desired personality traits. Prioritizing feedback from people who hold the same priorities you do will help narrow down your realtor search and align you to people who are most likely to meet your needs. 

Professionalism Shows

Is there anything more frustrating than leaving a voicemail for someone and never hearing back? Professional realtors always have an inquiry funnel, or a way to channel new client calls, emails, or inquiries so you aren’t left hanging without a response. They have professional voicemail messages, clear website information, and realtor-specific email addresses. Check their website for certifications, licenses, and credentials, including membership in the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and information about the brokerage they work for. Some realtors are also brokers; a broker title typically equates to a higher level of education, training, and real estate experience. 

A professional realtor responds quickly, articulates their process with clarity and expertise, and listens to what you want and need. They have your best interests at heart and use your feedback to better tailor their services so they can find you the best possible home options for your individual situation. There’s a tangible difference in the quality of your interactions with a professional realtor, from the tone of voice they use to their attitude during inevitable complications. You want someone who will fight for you in a collaborative, non-confrontational way so you can walk away from your transactions with a confident smile on your face. 

Ask and You Shall Receive 

Sometimes the hardest part about buying a new home is the unsteadiness that comes from not knowing the right questions to ask. A professional realtor can alleviate the home-buying jitters by giving your concerns a voice and coming up with options you otherwise wouldn’t of known about. They are skilled in navigating complex real estate transactions and are prepared to find compromises that suit everyone’s needs and timelines. 

With these types of negotiation skills at the core of their role, your ideal realtor should have no problem answering your questions about their commission rate, sales figures, years in the industry, experience, education, and training. Ask them about their team, if they work with other realtors, and whether or not you’ll be working directly with the agent or may occasionally need to work with team members. Ask about their sick policy and if they have coverage for absences. The last thing you want is to show up to a showing and not be able to get in the door! Professional realtors can easily get ahead of these questions and provide positive, document-supported resources for you to record all the answers. 

One of the best ways to ensure you get into the home of your dreams is by partnering with an experienced, dedicated realtor you love. Investigate the realtors on your radar by asking for referrals, trusting your initial impressions, and asking the right questions. Are you still feeling a little unsure where to start? Reach out to Eastbrook Homes today to get connected to one of our expert Eastbrook Sales Agents. They understand the Eastbrook process and are pros at finding the perfect Eastbrook home for your needs. Streamline your home buying process by partnering with Eastbrook Homes, where you’ll always get more home for your money!