4 Ways to Tell You Have a Kick Ass Real Estate Agent
We’re following up our 4 Ways to tell your Agent is Useless with the obvious 4 Ways to Tell Your Agent is Kick-Ass. Buying real estate is a large investment and one of the biggest decisions you will make, which is why choosing the right Toronto real estate agent is very important. However, if you haven’t worked with too many real estate agents in the past, you may not be realizing you are settling for an average agent that may never find what you are looking for. For this reason, we have listed the top four ways to tell your agent kicks ass, so that you can work with someone who will meet and exceed your expectations.
1. HONESTY: We cannot stress that this first and most important attribute will make the biggest difference between a successful transaction and a disaster. You need to beware of the “YES” man. If your agent is just trying to please you and make you like a property, a red flag should go up in your mind. It is important that your agent answer all your questions honestly, but it is even more important that your agent volunteer negative aspects about properties you visit. If your agent feels the property is priced too high, they should be telling you, if they spot a resale issue they should be bringing it to your attention. Our job is not only to point out all the great things about the property – our job is to point out the negatives and protect our clients. A kick-ass agent should realize that they are building a relationship with their client for life and they need to protect them, that starts with HONESTY!
2. KNOWLEDGABLE: We think this attribute speaks for itself. As we previously mentioned, purchasing a Toronto home is the largest financial and one of the most important decisions most people will make in their lives, so why leave it to someone that doesn’t know what they are doing? If you are looking in a specific area, your Agent should know that area cold. Where is the closest Starbucks? How much did that house across the street sell for? How long is the walk to the closest school, subway or church? What are the demographics of the neighborhood? Who are the builders in this neighborhood?
The Ontario Real Estate Association and The Toronto Real Estate Board do an excellent job of educating their Realtors. Continuing education is mandatory to keep your license and we at Slavens & Associates are 100% behind this. But the best agents go above and beyond. Not only must your agent be educated on the areas you are looking, they must also know the ins and outs of getting the deal done, know what to look for as warning signs in homes that potential issues like knob and tube electrical may exist or asbestos might be found in the home. They must know how to read a survey and know what to look for when walking around a property to spot irregularities. You get the picture, if your agent can’t answer questions like these, they aren’t kick-ass!
3. LISTENS: A good real estate agent will ask you all of the questions required to find your perfect home. However, a kick-ass real estate agent will actually listen and focus on your requests and needs versus their own. Once they have really listened to what you are looking for by asking you specific questions, then they can go ahead and filter through options and pre-screen homes prior to you viewing them, therefore, not wasting your time. When a real estate agent listens well, then you will find the entire experience more enjoyable and productive. Rather than showing you homes that you would never
consider, an awesome real estate agent should show you several homes that are definite contenders for your new home!
4. EXPERIENCE: There is no substitute for experience when it comes to real estate. Would you want a pilot with 100 hours of flying time or 10,000 hours of flying time? Would you want a part time pilot or a full time pilot? It’s the same idea when it comes to Toronto real estate agents. That’s not to say there aren’t some amazing new agents in the business – because there are. Remember, if there is a support system in place with great Brokers and a team environment, you will be ok. At Slavens & Associates, we always make sure our Toronto real estate agents are kick ass! Our professional team will help you find the right place for you and your family to call home.
