Their Experience:
A California agent must understand his or her local real estate market as well as the practices and processes of buying and selling a property. While a new agent may have energy and desire to perform but an experienced agent will be able to offer insight and experience which are likely to give their clients the edge in a transaction. The experience does not have to come in form of years in real estate, can be how many closed transactions they have completed. Just because a Realtor® has been the industry for 5 years does not mean they have closed 50 transactions. Experience also indicates negotiating skills and best practices.
An agent must be licensed in California to negotiate price, ensure they are properly licensed to be knowledgeable about a specific neighborhood that you are looking to purchase in. There is also a different when it comes to a residential and commercial agent. Work with the proper agent for the job, commercial properties are much different than residential properties, so find an agent with the experience you require.
Their Creativity:
Since a variety of issues can arise during a real estate transaction, a well prepared real estate agent should be able to solve problems creatively. A California Realtor® who helps their sellers and buyers through difficult problems with reasonable alternatives or finds a way to overcome an obstacle is invaluable.
Marketing is essential in the real estate industry, choose an agent who knows how to creatively use current technology to drive as much traffic to your property or to locate a home for a buyer is a benefit to the process. Buyers usually start their home search online, so an appealing, user-friendly website is essential. For property sellers, videos are often one of the best ways to display the best features of the home for potential buyers to preview the property. With current tools available to all real estate agent, an agent who knows how to use them has advantage of making an effective deal for their clients.
Their Honesty:
California home sellers need someone who will be realistic with them about the value of their property, no matter what other homes in the neighborhood are selling for or what the sellers think their home is worth. Home buyers need an agent who will advise them, that consistently under bidding in order to get more home for more than what they are qualified for will not a viable strategy to own a home. These conversations are difficult to have, but an honest real agent will have them with a buyer to achieve a successful result.
Another vital aspect of honesty is maintain consistent communication with a buyer or seller. Even if there is nothing new to report, a quick status update is essential to maintaining that trust. Silence is a sign of denial or even worse, bad news pending, so an agent who communicates regularly is being honest with their clients.
Finally, an agent needs be honest and forthright to put their client's interest ahead of their own, showing a client every house that fits their criteria and not just those that will give an agent the biggest commission. An effective seller's agent will inform their clients the feedback they receive from potential buyers, even if the news is discouraging. Keeping information from a seller may keep the relationship friendly, but it does not put the seller's interest above the agent's.
Call a local and professionally licensed real estate agent who specializes in your real estate needs when purchasing or selling a property. This is the first step towards a smooth and successful escrow. This also applies to loan officers. I welcome the opportunity to discuss your needs in owning or selling a home at 909-503-5600.