When you’re buying or selling your home, you want to be sure that you have everything you need to successfully close the deal. That includes a real estate broker that will work hard for you to make sure you get the best possible deal on that property.
But how do you know what makes a good real estate broker? How do you find the best one to help you buy or sell your home? Here, we’ll cover what are the qualities of a good real estate agent, and five ways you can decide if you’ve found the right professional for your needs.
How to Choose a Real Estate Broker: 5 Key Steps
When it’s time for you to find a partner to help you buy or sell your home, you have to ask yourself: What is most important to you in a brokerage? If you’re not sure, here are five ways you can find a good broker.
Get Referrals from Friends and Family
If you don’t know where to start, asking your network, friends, or family members if they have a good real estate broker can take a lot of guesswork out of the process. Asking people you know and trust if they have any recommendations can help you feel more confident that you’re getting the best of the best in your broker. It can also help you skip some of the research or reference checks you might have to do down the road.
Do Your Research
Maybe your friends and family don’t have any recommendations, or maybe none of them seem like the right fit for you. Choosing a real estate broker definitely requires some research, so use search terms like “luxury commercial real estate broker Las Vegas” to get your search started.
From there, you can check out their online presence, like their website or social media platforms, and see if they have any reviews online. Check for things like what licenses they have, what their closing record is, or marketing plans they offer to their clients to see if they can take your property to the next level. Make a list of real estate brokers you think seem like good fits, and then move on to the next step.
Interview Multiple Brokers
To find a real estate broker, it’s a good idea to interview multiple professionals or real estate brokerages before making your final decision. Even if you think you like one person, you want to get multiple opinions. That way, you can make sure you’re getting the best offer and that it seems reasonable in the market you’re in.
Come prepared for these interviews so you can get right down to business and save you both some time. Here are some questions to ask a broker when you meet:
- What experience do you have in this area?
- What is your plan for marketing my property?
- How will you keep me informed? How often will I hear from you?
- How many other clients do you have, and how much time can you dedicate to my property?
- What is your commission split?
- Are there any other brokerage-related fees?
With these questions, you want to get an idea of what your working relationship with your broker will look like, how much it’ll cost you, and what they can offer you that maybe the competition can’t. You also want to get an idea of how busy they are and how much time they can dedicate to your property; a broker that’s too busy might not be able to give your property the attention it deserves, so you want to find one with a healthy balance of clients.
Once you’ve conducted all these interviews, you can then compare your notes and get an idea of who is the best fit for your needs.
Request (and Check) Real Estate Broker References
At the end of the day, you’re entering into a pretty serious working relationship with a broker. When you’re choosing a real estate broker, ask them for references. Request information about homes they’ve bought or sold recently, and contact information for a few previous clients.
Then, once you have this information, be sure to call and check these references. It’ll take you a little extra time and some work, but it’s worth it for the peace of mind of knowing that you’re partnering with the right person.
Read All the Fine Print
Once you’ve chosen your real estate broker and received your contract with them, take a close look at it. Make sure that all the terms and fees match what you were told in your interview, and make note of any questions or concerns you have before you sign.
Another thing to check at this stage is the length of your contract. Most contracts are about six months, especially with homes selling as fast as they are. But, if your partnership doesn’t work out or if you want to explore other options, keeping your contract short keeps your options open.
If you’re looking for a commercial real estate broker in Las Vegas, look no further than IS Luxury. Get in touch with one of our expert luxury real estate brokers and list with IS Luxury today!
