Are you searching for your first Waterloo Region home? Are you unhappy with the real estate agent that you’ve used in the past? Have you moved to a new city and looking for another home? If you’re like many people, you’ve driven around that city or town and already found some homes that interest you. You’ve looked at the newspaper ads, and you’ve checked out the website that shows all the MLS listings – www.realtor.ca.
One thing’s for sure…you will definitely need a real estate agent. But there are a lot of them out there. You have probably realised that by now, too. So how do you go about narrowing things down to choose the best real estate agent for you?
Finding the Best Waterloo Region Realtor is Not as Hard as You Think
Are you are starting to recognize names from the For Sale signs on the streets? Go ahead and call a few. Check out Yelp!, the reviews on Google and Facebook, and the BBB. Have friends or family in the area? Ask them for a recommendation. Check out some local blogs. You’ve got to start somewhere, right?
When you initially speak to each real estate agent keep things brief. Tell them a little about what you are looking for and maybe mention a few of the properties you have already seen on those drive-bys.
Some realtors will ask if you’d like to see some other homes that may fit your search criteria. Some realtors will just line up a showing for that one particular place and leave it at that. The best real estate agent in Waterloo will ask you what you are specifically looking for, and then recommend a few other places that you may want to see.
Making the Big Connection
First impressions can tell you a lot. In your search for the best real estate agent, you may feel an immediate connection, and that this person will make your house-hunting adventures a fun and interesting task. Or you could immediately dislike the realtor that you are speaking with. Gut feeling like this are good, but not all that you should base your decision on.
In a way, it’s a bit like a blind date. If you don’t feel a connection with the person you’ve just met, you don’t ever have to ask them out again! Just move on to someone else. If your first realtor gives you a follow-up call (and many don’t), you can always tell them you’ve decided to go with someone else, and leave it at that.
If you’ve just started searching for your first home or will be new to the area, don’t be afraid to ask the realtor any questions you have about the local housing market and the Waterloo Region in general. If they don’t have the answers, and don’t offer to find you the information, you’ll probably want to consider finding another agent because a realtor who can’t answer these basics is never going to qualify as the best realtor in Kitchener.
The problem is, some Realtors prefer to try to earn their living mainly by listing homes for sale as a part-time side gig. Others are more passionate about showing houses and getting them sold and/or finding their clients the dream home they are looking for, and real estate is their full-time passion. And to be honest it is the latter that make the best realtors.
Here are some characteristics of the best realtor in any given market, not just the Waterloo Region:
They will be eager to help you find the right home
They will do their homework. They will offer to find you the information you need, and get back to you quickly.
They will follow up to see if you are interested in viewing more houses
They make it easy for you to look at properties, they will work with your schedule.
They will allow you to set the pace when you are viewing homes.
They will listen to your comments and concerns, and address them promptly and concisely.
Any agent can take you to a house and open the door for you. You need to find someone who feels like they are on your ‘team’. It may take a few tries and false starts to find that ‘best real estate agent’ but the extra effort will be worth it. House hunting is stressful, but the best realtor can make it a lot easier. And we know that you want that!
Getting ready to buy a Waterloo Region home, or sell the one you own? Let Team Pinto use their huge local real estate experience and expertise to help you. Contact the award-winning Team Pinto here, or book a free Zoom consultation to discuss your unique Waterloo Region real estate needs here.