Tips On Selecting A Realtor In Northern Virginia

By Patty Goff


Buying or selling property involves making important financial decision, understanding the complex property market and completing a lot of paperwork. Perhaps the best thing to do is selecting the services of a realtor in Northern Virginia. This professional will help you get buyers if you are selling, negotiate sales and advise you on the appropriate price for your property. With the many agents in the industry today, the task of selecting the right one can be challenging. The following factors, if considered, will help you to make an informed decision.

Perhaps the first thing you will do is looking for prospective service providers. Word of mouth referrals is the most common and reliable means of locating realtors in your locality. If you know of friends or colleagues who sold or bought a similar property, ask them to recommend the professional they used. However, if you are not able to find any credible referrals, searching in online directories will help you find realtors in your town.

Once you have narrowed down your search to a handful realtors, consider scheduling individual interviews so you can evaluate their suitability for your needs. The credentials of the service provider should be the first thing to check. Check how qualified the individual is and if he is a member of a professional association. Membership to professional organization indicates that the agent is concerned with improving the quality of his services and observes ethics and codes of practice.

The next thing you can check is how long he has been in the property market. Your should also be interested in knowing how many units, similar to the one you are selling or want to buy, he has sold in the past one year. Look for a full time agent that is a professional who has experience in completing transactions that are similar to yours. Your best bet will be a property agent who is familiar with your local market and can help you differentiate from good and bad deals.

There are a number of approaches you can use in locating this service provider. These include getting referrals from friends, property managers and neighbors who have successfully used the services of this professional. This is usually the most common and reliable approach of finding agents who can be trusted. You can also search online, ask your lender or check in organized property networks.

Any property agent can list your house and wait it to sell. Some will claim to be able to sell your property at a high price, just to get your business. However, a great service provider understands that it is not just about the price, but how the buyer will view the property. Such realtors know what buyers are willing to pay extra for and what repairs, if done, can make the house sell quicker.

The real estate industry is very wide and has many professional whose services are interrelated. Let the professional explain to you who he works with and why he chooses them. He should be able to furnish you with a list of mortgage brokers, title companies and home inspectors. You can also check if there is any guarantee provided in the agreement, should be unhappy with services provided.

Do not settle with the first realtor you find. Consider shopping around evaluating the suitability of prospective realtors and then come back to one who feels like the best fit. Factors that you will need to check include reputation in the industry, experience levels, cost of services and the marketing strategy to be used.




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