Every team needs a good coach to lead the way. Whether you’re buying, selling or both, finding a good real estate agent that understands your needs and is able to guide you through each step of the process is beyond crucial. Three local real estate agents from Howard Hanna and Keller Williams share their advice on what to take into consideration to help find the right person for you.
A Personal Fit.
It’s key to find an agent who knows the market where you want to live and has off-market leads. But don’t forget, that with all the ups and downs of finding a home, real estate can be emotional. “So, choose an agent you are ready to take that ride with,” says Teresa Slowey Whitham, a Howard Hanna real estate agent based out of Solon, “because that person can be a neutralizer and your sounding board. They will give you good advice and know when to put the foot on the gas and when to let up.”
Quick Decisions.
A dedicated real estate agent with experience working in the current market understands the sense of urgency buyers feel to view homes. “By the time a weekend is over, sellers review offers and make a decision, so you need an agent with flexibility who can get you into a house at a moment’s notice,” says Jerry Kayser of Keller Williams Chervenic Realty. He notes that 80% of homes in the Chagrin Falls area he serves sold within seven days of listing. “With most of those, the seller receives multiple offers.”
Fresh Experience.
This seller’s market is different than last year’s. The pandemic, even lower interest rates and limited inventory are some reasons why. “For buyers, make sure your realtor has had significant experience in the last 12 months because this is definitely a different market than we’ve seen,” says Lindsay Kronk, a Howard Hanna real estate agent based in Cleveland. “You also want an agent with a team behind them, so if your agent is tied up for any reason, another agent can get you into a property as soon as possible.”
