What makes a good Realtor?

by Lynette Chapman on May 6, 2009

in For Buyers, For Sellers, General Information

There are a lot of real estate agents out there and finding the right one can be hard! As with any business, a strong relationship is important.

But how does this relationship become established?

Really, the same way that any other relationship becomes established – good human qualities with professional skill thrown in.

The top five things you should look for in a realtor are:

1) Showmanship!
Yep, this really is the most important part. Without showmanship, your agent is not going to have the confidence to negotiate hard, make new contacts that more shy agents are unable to, or give your deal the panache that makes it inviting.
2) Honesty
A good real estate agent knows you are not stupid and they won´t bother trying to trick you. Many people (probably you included) will have respect for a deal when all the warts are shown upfront. No deal is going to be perfect and a good agent will be completely transparent with anything they think you should know. They will also let you know the bad news just as fast as the good news!
3) Contacts
Good realtors are constantly adding to – and maintaining – their networks. They will be the kind of salesperson who never tries to sell ice to Eskimos. They don´t need to. By maintaining their contacts and building their relationships, it will be the Eskimo´s cousin in the Sahara who comes to you for ice. You can´t beat good word of mouth!
4) Experience
Nothing beats experience for tips and tricks of the trade. Although many realtors are well trained, it is being on the ground and learning first-hand that will give your agent the confidence and ability to close your deal well.
5) Intuition
This one is vital and cannot be learned. Whether you are looking to buy a house, or sell one, there are a lot of elements involved. A home is such an emotional investment that it is not always easy to sort out all of your motivations. A good agent will listen between the words and understand which questions to ask to help you identify all of your needs clearly.

And finally (yes, it was only supposed to be a Top 5 list, but this one is important!)… A good agent follows up. You will hear about these realtors by word of mouth. These realtors are like gold and if you can find one, keep them!