Dear Phoebe,
“I’m ready to buy my first house. How do I pick a Realtor? Ashley, Milford, Connecticut.
Well, that’s exciting Ashley! Buying your first house is one of the biggest experiences of your lifetime. It’s right up there with getting your first “real” job and you should be really proud of yourself for making this move (pun intended).
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You’re probably filled with a combination of excitement and nerves, both of which are totally normal. You probably also have a million questions running thru your mind. Finding the right Realtor should be one of the very first tasks you do, so you’re off to a great start!
Hare my suggestions to help you find the right person for the job:
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1) Know, Like and Trust: I’m going to reference my old friend Dale Carnegie, author of the influential book “How to Win Friends and Influence People” for this first suggestion. While a lot has changed in nearly 100 years since this little gem of a book was written (1936 in fact!), one thing has stayed the same - business is about RELATIONSHIPS. When you buy or sell a home, you’re going to work closely with your Realtor. Make sure you Know, Like and Trust Them. You want to work with people who check those three boxes for you or make you feel as if you’ll easily be able to check those boxes after a short while working together.
Tip: By the way, learning to know, like and trust people is the theme of chapter 2 of Mr. C’s book. If you’ve not read this book and work with people at all, grab it the next time you’re looking for a good resource on business development. Learning how to work with people is a life skill.
2) Check Their Track Record: Is the agent you’re considering active in the market? Have they worked with clients to buy or sell anything recently? While I’m a HUGE fan of part-time gigs, I’m going to suggest you hire an agent who works their real estate career FULL TIME. As a woman who prides herself on empowering women and wants everyone to succeed, there’s a reason 80% of Realtors quit after year one. This gig is hard. Any Realtor worth her salt is working this business 24/7 so find someone who is totally committed with some skin in the game and who has handed over the keys to a few Buyers before you.
3) Do They Know the Area: Is the agent you’re hiring from the area? Do they have a knowledge base for the towns in which you’re looking? They don’t need to live there, but do they know the town enough to guide you. As a Realtor, our Code of Ethics does not allow use to direct you to any specific town or neighborhood (that’s your call … always!), but we can certainly tell you where to get a good cup of coffee, glass of wine or the best place for take out in the area. All of which may be important for you if you want to spend some time getting to know the town. Which I totally suggest BTW.
4) Ask Their Past Clients: Can you speak with past clients? Are they willing to share names and testimonials? Do you know anyone who has worked with this agent? Word of mouth is the oldest form of marketing. Ask around and see if you can connect with current or past clients.
5) Interview: Interview them? YUP. 100%. Your house is likely your biggest asset. Make a list of a few Realtors recommended to you or that seem like a good fit based on your own research. Reach out and ask if they would be open to a conversation and interview. If they bristle at this request, you already know the answer to your question. Not your person! In my humble opinion, every agent should welcome this kind of conversation.
6) Do you Get a Good Vibe: You’re going to work with your Realtor CLOSELY! Do you like them? Truth be told, I need to like my clients, too. This is a relationship business (see #1). Do you want to spend time with this person? Imagine being together a few hours every few days as you’re house hunting in this insane market! Do you WANT to work with this person? What’s your gut say?
While it’s a challenging market out there, with the right Realtor by your side, you’ll find a home you love and with the proper planning on your part, you’ll be a homeowner before you know it.
One more piece of advice? Expect some road bumps. While many deals are smooth transactions, there are a lot of moving parts when you buy a home. Don’t panic if something goes off the rails a bit. Reach out to your Realtor and they will guide you home.
Have a question for me? I'd love to hear from you. Email me at pschreiner@wpsir.com or ask me a question below – just hit that REPLY button!
Follow me on Instagram @phoebeschreiner for all things Real Estate, New England, Design and Living on The Shoreline.
From My Nest to Yours,
Phoebe
@phoebeschreiner