How to Find A Good Real Estate Agent: A Checklist


There are certain qualifications that real estate agents must measure up to. These standards ensure that buyers are protected and that real estate agents are properly prepared to take on the tremendous responsibility of representing a buyer in a real estate transaction. This list of qualifications is a good measuring tool to finding a competent and effective real estate agent, which, if I may remind, is one of the biggest decisions anyone can make.

Finding a good real estate agent:

- Good real estate agents are licensed.

- At least high school graduates

- Should have passed a written test composed of questions on basic real estate transactions and the laws governing them

- They must be 18 years old and above.

- Good real estate agents should have completed at least 30 or at maximum 90 hours of formal training.

- Good real estate agents have substantial experience in the business, at least one to three years.

- They have renewed licenses.

- Good real estate agents have some background knowledge on real estate, law, statistics, finance and other like courses.

- They know the neighborhood they intend to work, or are working, in.

- Good real estate agents have pleasing personalities.

- They are presentable and respectable, in the aesthetic department.

- Good real estate agents are tactful, professional and enthusiastic to gain trust.

- They are organized and have good memories for practical things, like faces, names and business details that will help them build rapport.

- Good real estate agents are knowledgeable about computers, owing to the increasing usage of the electronic tool in research and communication with buyers and sellers.

- They have a good network of service-oriented companies prepared to take on any need that the buyer may encounter.

- Good real estate agents know and study real estate trends, peaks and valleys and general flow of real estate pricings.

- They know the tactics used by sellers and are ready for them.

- Good real estate agents can identify structural flaws in the property, leakages or ventilation problems and the like.

- They are up-front and can translate to the buyer real estate jargon for clarity.

- Good real estate agents are always available and on-call.

- Finally, they have to be honest.

Basically, finding a good real estate agent entails a lot of prep work and research. Find out his recent deals, talk to past clients and sellers. If you're intending to hire a big name, run a background check. Information on them is readily available.

If you don't have one in mind yet, ask for referrals from people you trust. Ask your mom and dad; ask your neighbor, or your best friend. In terms of building trust, there can never be anyone more reliable regarding referrals than the people you trust yourself. Word of mouth is also mostly reliable in this kind of situation.

Getting a house is a very important decision. One that can alter your life for better or for worse. Deciding on the person to help you with that decision will make a world of a difference. A good real estate agent may not only save you from getting a horrible house, he may save you some big money in such a large transaction.