When you’re buying, selling, or renting a place, there are many big decisions you will need to make. One of these is whether or not you will be using a real estate agent. 

While there are pros and cons both for using a real estate agent and for trying to do things on your own, it’s certainly a good idea to work through an estate agent if it’s your first time buying or selling a house. That being said, it’s important that you find the right real estate agent for you, and we’re here to share how you can do it.

Look at a real estate company 

While some real estate agents may work on their own, most work through reputable real estate companies. Therefore, it makes sense that you should start by looking at these companies and trying to find an estate agent there – most companies have profiles of their agents on their websites. 

If you work with an agent who is employed by a proper real estate company, you will know that you are working with someone who knows what they are doing. Have a look at Yoder Real Estate to see if this company can work for you.

Consider their rates 

Your real estate agent won’t be working for you for free – you will need to pay them. Therefore, you should find out about their rates upfront so that you can eliminate anyone who doesn’t fit your budget. 

If you are selling a house, they will likely earn their money by taking a portion of the sale as commission, so be sure to find out what percentage they require. You can learn more about how real estate agents are paid here. 

Find references

Selling and buying a house are both big deals, which is why you need to make sure you’re working with someone who knows their stuff. The best way of doing this is to talk to someone who has worked with them before. If anyone you know has recently sold their house, ask them if they would recommend their estate agent – if they do, you should get their details. 

Alternatively, you can look for reviews online. While you may not find reviews for a specific estate agent, you will likely be able to find reviews for their company, which will still be helpful. Customer reviews are important for businesses, so be sure to consider writing your own once you’ve worked with the agent. 

Choose someone you get along with

Of course, you don’t need to like someone in order to work with them, but it seriously helps, especially when it comes to situations that are already stressful, like selling a house. You should be trying to reduce your stress, not increase it, so it’s a good idea to go with an estate agent that you get along with and who understands what you need from them. That being said, you shouldn’t base your decision solely on whether you like them or not – you should consider everything else mentioned in this post as well.