Till a few years back, nobody could guess that the real estate industry in Canada will flourish so well. The increasing rate of disposable income on every hand and the number of immigrants gave way to a boosted demand for houses. And that became the ground for more and more people to start their real estate businesses.
With thousands of home seekers and sellers transacting every year, realtors’ position kept getting stronger – to a point where their advice is now a necessity and not a choice anymore. Hiring them does come at a price but is worthy enough. There is no one like these experts knowing the industry and market so well.
However, the quality of operations and amount of experience can differ from one realtor to another. So, you have to spend time searching for a professional that caters to your needs. If it is your first time, this guide can help you and make your hunting successful. Have a read-through, and you won’t regret making any decision.
- Get Referrals from Friends and Family
You probably never have to do your extensive research on the best realtor in town if someone from your network has worked with one before. You can take suggestions from your colleagues, family members, relatives, and other peer groups and do a background check to confirm. If you don’t get any recommendations, try searching on Google for local realtors around you.
- Assess Market Presence
Whether the names of real estate agents come from your close references or online research, you have to examine their status and presence in the industry. And for that, you must check their website and active social media accounts. Read through what their previous customers have to say for them. Expect one or two negative reviews, but nothing more – it could be a red flag.
- Interview Shortlisted Candidates
It is essential to hire a realtor who is aware of a particular neighborhood and understands your budget needs well. And you can make that out from how polished their initial proposal looks. Their effort and knowledge can be seen in the presentation. So, you can shortlist the top two or three candidates based on it and conduct a final interview. If you feel positive and motivated, it is a good sign.
- Look for Loyalty
The biggest trait of a reliable realtor is loyalty. He/she carries your best interest at heart and no profit or commission can win him/her over your benefit. By no means should you feel manipulated or spending more (on their fees) than usual. If your judgment instinct is powerful enough, you can see it for yourself while interviewing or during an in-person chat.
- Check Connections to Other Professionals
If you are a first-time homebuyer, you need a mortgage broker, estate lawyer, and home inspector. So, work with a well-established realtor, and you can easily partner with agents of top-notch quality and experience. You can reduce your hassle and extra charges to a great extent.