How to Find a Realtor in Your Neighborhood

When it’s time to sell your home, one of the first things you’ll need to think about is who you plan to use as a realtor. While some people have go-to Realtors that they use for all of their real estate needs, it’s not uncommon to need some help learning how to find a realtor if this is your first time selling a home or you’re new to the area. Read on to find out more.

How to Find a Realtor: 5 Steps

When you need a realtor, follow these five steps to help you find the ideal fit:

1. Ask around

If you’ve been in an area for a while, it’s likely that you have friends or family members who have sold or purchased homes through various Realtors. If this is the case, don’t be afraid to ask these people for their opinion. Word-of-mouth is often a fantastic way to find a Realtor, and you’ll likely wind up with several recommendations that you can sort through as time goes on.

2. Check references

Once you’ve found a Realtor that looks like a good fit, contact the realtor and ask for a list of the homes they’ve sold within the past year. Most Realtors will happily supply this, and it can give you an idea of how successful the realtor is and what he or she is like to work with.

3. Check the Realtor’s licensing

Different states have different licensing requirements, so you’ll need to do some research on your particular state’s regulatory board to find out what licenses your Realtor needs to have. While you’re researching licenses, you should also look into whether the Realtor has ever received any complaints or disciplinary action.

4. Find out how long a Realtor has been in business

In the world of real estate, experience matters and many people find that they’re happier with a Realtor who has years of experience than a Realtor that’s new to the game. Because of this, it’s wise to research your Realtor and find out how long he or she has been in business.

5. Schedule a meeting

After you’ve checked a Realtor’s credentials and references, you’ll want to schedule a time to meet him or her in person. Selling or purchasing a house can be a time-consuming and stressful process, so it’s wise to invest the time needed into finding a Realtor you’re comfortable with. This will save you difficulty and disagreements down the road and ensure that you get exactly what you want from the real estate process.

If you’ve never hired a Realtor before, finding one in your neighborhood can feel intimidating. Luckily, these five steps will help you find a Realtor you love and develop a mutually agreeable real estate partnership.