1. Informative and Knowledgeable
The real estate agent should be able to to provide detailed information regarding a property to you. The agent should also be able to answer your questions when in doubt without convincing you otherwise.
If you are looking for a house, you may ask :
- How old is the property and it is on leasehold or freehold?
- Is the property furnished and is there any repairs that the buyer has to bear?
- How much do you need to pay for maintenance and miscellaneous fees?
- What is the reason for sale/rent?
- Is the price reasonable as compared to the general market or do you have more units to show for comparison?
If the agent is not able to answer to you or gives you only rosy answers, you might have reason to have your antennas up.
Additionally, having an agent that is updated about the latest trends in taxation, property market and financing loans would be a plus. You might also wonder if you should rent instead. A good agent will give useful informations on these matter to aid your decision making.
2. Efficient and Punctual
Customer service is everything. If you get an agent that is sloppy, keep looking. Due to low barriers of entry to the real estate agent market, there are part time property agents that are only available on weekends, which might not be in your best interest.
Bear in mind that for good units, time is an important key so you wouldn’t want to waste your time on an agent that is half-hearted.
Having an agent that know the ins and out of the whole process can also help expedite your case quickly.
3. Customer Centered
As a middleman, a good real estate agent should understand the needs from both sides. By nature, the seller would like to sell as high as possible and the the buyer would like to purchase as low as possible. A good real estate agents will not compromise integrity and press on one side just for the sake of closing a deal.
An honest real estate agent should not conceal any defects and problems in the house from potential tenants.
The same goes for the home owner who deserves to know any details regarding the tenant/buyer such as occupation, nationality, living with family or not, and etc.
A Wrap Up
The good way to spot good real estate agents is through recommendation from people you trust. If the person who recommends you is a recurring and satisfied client, you know there is a big chance that the agent is professional and reliable.
Also, by rule of numbers, do talk to as many agents as you can to weed out the good ones from the bad. Once locked in, be sure to maintain a good relationship as it can be beneficial in the future.
Don’t forget to get the best rates in the market with our Home Loan Calculator once you do find good property you wish to buy.
Good luck.
