Buying your home is a major milestone in your life. Whether it is your first home or your tenth, searching for Bronzeville real estate is no small feat. Yet, as you are searching Bronzeville homes for sale, one of the most important aspects of the house hunt is finding the right real estate agent. If you already know a real estate agent in your inner circle, whether it is a family member, a friend, or a neighbor, then choosing a real estate agent can be a pretty straightforward process. Yet, in some cases, you are searching for a local real estate expert. How do you know whether or not you have chosen the right agent in your house hunt? Here are the five main qualities of a great Bronzeville real estate agent.
Understands the local market
When searching for a real estate agent, there are many things to consider. First and foremost, it’s important to remember you will be in a professional relationship with your real estate agent. You first want to make sure you are comfortable working with them. If you feel comfortable with the multiple agents you are interviewing, you should consider their credentials. How well do they understand your local real estate market?
Whether you are relocating from another area or familiar with the Bronzeville area, working with a local expert is essential to your house hunt. Your ideal agent should be highly familiar with the area. Suppose they have previous experience working with buyers in Bronzeville or have successfully marketed and sold homes in the area. In that case, chances are they are highly familiar with the local market. This is important since your agent can provide valuable insight into property values, recent market activity, nearby amenities, and more.
Has extensive industry experience
Everyone has to start somewhere. This is true even in real estate. Yet, working with an experienced agent can be a major boon to your house hunt. An experienced real estate agent can not only help you navigate through the real estate market with ease; experienced agents are more likely to have industry connections, which can help you find your dream home faster. Experienced real estate agents are also more likely to be full-time agents. Why is this important? A full-time real estate agent is more likely to dedicate more time and energy to help you find your dream house. Full-time agents are also able to accommodate your schedule more easily, which is crucial for showings. If you are working with an agent who works part-time, make sure they give you contact information for another real estate agent in case you have questions and your agent is not available to take your calls.
While working with an experienced real estate agent is ideal, working with a newer agent doesn’t necessarily have to be a dealbreaker. If you are working with a newer buyer’s agent, make sure they are part of an experienced real estate team who can guide you through the real estate transaction.
Prioritizes your needs
Going beyond an agent’s industry experience and level of local market expertise, it is essential to choose an agent who prioritizes your needs. Your agent should be emotionally present in all of your conversations, taking inventory of your wants and needs. This is especially important when you and your agent are discussing your house hunt. Your agent should have a clear understanding of what you are looking for in your new home, including the size and layout of the home, desired features, nearby amenities, price point, location, and other important factors.
Knowing these crucial details is essential to the success of your house hunt since you and your agent are more likely to find your dream home more quickly. Along with knowing what you are looking for in the house hunt, your agent should also be dedicated to serving your best interests, meaning they would never allow you to get into a situation that would not directly benefit you. For example, your agent should never encourage you to place an offer on a house you are not fully sure about. Your agent would either try to find the answers you need in order to move forward with putting in an offer, or your agent would encourage you to keep looking until you find a home you’re sure you want to commit to.
Has strong negotiation skills
In many aspects, your real estate agent is your greatest advocate. Your agent’s duty is to help you navigate through every aspect of the real estate transaction. This includes submitting an offer on your dream home. Once you find your dream home, you and your agent will need to come up with terms for the purchase agreement, including purchase price, earnest money, and contingencies. Once it is time to submit an offer, you want to make sure your agent has keen negotiation skills. This is especially important if you are in a competitive real estate market, where it is likely multiple people are interested in the same property. It is up to your agent to help you negotiate for your dream home while securing the best deal possible.
Demonstrates honesty, transparency, and integrity
Beyond your realtor’s skills and expertise, one of the most important qualities you should look for in a real estate agent is their value system. While market knowledge and negotiation tactics are skills that can be taught through many years in the industry, an agent’s value system is ingrained within them. An agent’s value systems reveal so much about who they are and how they conduct their business. What are the most important values your agent should possess? Some of the most important traits are honesty, transparency, and integrity. An agent who demonstrates these key virtues is an agent you want to work alongside with.
Whether they are skill-based or value-based, there are so many wonderful qualities you should look for in a real estate agent. Once you find an agent who demonstrates most or all of these qualities, then the house hunt can begin.
Are you ready to purchase your dream home? Whether you are searching for a Bronzeville or the surrounding area, trust Jordan Fuller and his team at Hello Chicago Homes to help you find the perfect home in your ideal neighborhood. Contact Jordan today to jumpstart your home search.
