Let’s be real, when it comes to finding an Ogden realtor, you don’t want the homebuying equivalent of a used-car salesman, with the greasy hair, mismatched suit, and a sleazy smile. You know the type, they pat the car with the assurance that “she runs like new,” only to have the bumper fall off.
No, instead you want an expert, someone in your corner because he or she is driven by the desire to get you in a home that is going to last. Here we’ve listed 10 qualities to look for in an Ogden realtor that will almost certainly help you find a home you’ll love.
Knowledge
You’ve heard the phrase, “knowledge is power,” right? We cannot begin to tell you how true that is. Your Ogden realtor should be knowledgeable, relying both on firsthand experience gained, as well as education acquired through staying up-to-date on the newest real estate trends.
Strong Communication Skills
Being able to clearly communicate should be a non-negotiable skill for any Ogden realtor. A massive part of a realtor’s job is spent talking – talking to clients, to other agents, to buyers and sellers, and the majority of the time they are passing the information they gain from one person to another.
If a real estate agent cannot clearly communicate, then you often will be the one who (in some cases literally) pay the price. Either you will pay higher prices than you could have, will end up missing out on what could have been a great house, or you might find yourself accepting deals with provisions that you didn’t want.
A realtor with strong communication skills should be able to do the following:
- Listen and clearly communicate: Conversation takes two. Since it is your home you’re trying to buy, you deserve to have your voice heard. Along with that, a good realtor should be able to speak to you in laymans’ terms, avoiding all the insider jargon nobody understands.
- Ask questions: Again, you deserve to have your voice heard. A good real estate agent should take the time to get to know you and understand where you’re coming from, what you want, and what your expectations are.
Negotiation Skills
If the first rule of real estate is “location, location, location” then the second rule should be “negotiation, negotiation, negotiation.”
A realtor is almost always negotiating with someone over something somewhere. At almost all times they are trying to haggle for:
- The listing price
- The selling price
- And their own commission
No one can survive as a realtor without having some negotiation skills and the better their ability, the better deals they should be able to secure for you.
Honesty And Integrity
Remember what we said earlier about wanting to avoid the homebuying equivalent of a used car salesman? That especially comes into play here.
A strong reputation is crucial to having a long and successful career, no matter what job you hold. In real estate, where often you are dealing with years’ and years’ worth of somebody else’s savings, if you aren’t trustworthy, you’re going to find yourself in trouble.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is one way where you can tell if a real estate agent is principled, as they hold anyone in their association to a strong code of ethics. Feel free to ask your realtor if they are a part of it or talk to family and friends who they have worked with in the past.
Self-Motivation
Realtors are their own boss. Even realtors who work under brokers are still mostly free agents. That’s why a realtor that constantly needs even their own client to hold their hand and walk them through aspects of their own job should be traded in for one who is going to get right to work.
Problem Solver
The role of a realtor is large in part a problem-solving one. People need to buy a home, preferably by a certain date and only with a certain budget. Other people want to sell, but they won’t accept anything less than such-and-such dollars. Some people aren’t sure what to do about this, and others aren’t sure what to do about that. They have questions and concerns and the realtor should be able to answer and do their best to help staunch the concerns.
Attention To Detail
Details fill up almost every aspect of an Ogden realtor’s job, they have prices to compare, numbers to crunch, they have aspects of different homes to consider, distances, and neighborhoods. That’s just scratching the surface. The sharp eye of a good realtor has the potential to save you lots of money, or find an incredible house while remaining in your budget.
A Strong Network
Often, the outcome of a real estate deal can come down to “who you know.” Realtors are very social creatures, and building strong relationships with buyers, sellers, other realtors, and professionals in the industry can get you into the right doors (literally in some cases). Look up reviews and testimonials of the realtor you’re considering and see what other people have to say.
A Winning Personality
Speaking of being very social creatures, good realtors also need the personality to do the job well. Some traits they should exhibit include:
- Enthusiasm for the job. Do you want to work with someone who looks like it’s a grind to work with you?
- A pleasant personality. Buying a home is hard enough. Who wants to work with a grump?
- Strong communication skills. We covered this above, but it’s worth mentioning again.
- Confidence but not cockiness. It doesn’t inspire much enthusiasm when a realtor doesn’t even seem sure what they’re talking about.
Determination
It takes a strong work ethic to make a living as a realtor. In order to be successful, it takes dedication, drive, and yes, determination. Leads need to be chased down, opportunities need to be seized, and negotiations have to be made with confidence by a realtor if you, the buyer, have any chance of getting a great deal. You can often tell if your realtor has that “go get ‘em” attitude pretty early on.
Need An Ogden Realtor? Fresh And New Real Estate Has Got Your Back!
Looking for Ogden or Uintah real estate has never been easier than with Fresh and New Real Estate. If you know what you want out of your realtor, and after this article we hope that you do, then you can find those traits right here. In order to learn more, feel free to contact us. We would love to answer any questions that you might have so that you can go into the home buying experience feeling confident.
Find your dream home today with Fresh and New Real Estate!
