Tips for looking for a Realtor to help you sell your current home or buy a new house
Selling or buying a home is one of the most important decisions and biggest investments that people can make, so when it comes to choosing an experienced and professional real estate agent in the Dayton Ohio area for help, you’ll want to ensure that your needs will be met and that you’re working with someone who understands the local market, realty contracts, and financials. Whether you are a first-time homeowner or have sold your primary residence multiple times finding the perfect match between buyer/seller and a Miami Valley Realtor is critical on the journey towards a successful real estate transaction.
If you are looking for a real estate agent in Dayton, Ohio, there are several ways you can find a qualified and experienced professional to help you buy or sell a home. In this blog post, we will outline several effective methods for identifying candidates which can help expedite and simplify your search process! Here are a few options you can consider:
1. Ask for referrals
Talk to friends, family, and colleagues who have recently bought or sold a home in the Dayton area and ask if they can recommend a real estate agent they worked with. Personal referrals can be a great way to find an agent you can trust.
2. Search for online reviews
There are several places where you can find online real estate agent reviews. Probably the most authentic and reliable reviews are found on the agent's Google Business Profile. Other online directories that list real estate agents, such as Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com also show reviews, but give preference to agents who pay them thousands of dollars a month for these directories to send them your contact information as a “lead.”
Also, when an agent has a lot of reviews online, check whether the agent has another agent(s) working under them. In other words, the agent review count may show they have four hundred reviews, but they don’t tell you that there are 20 +/- agents working under the name of the main agent. As you read the reviews you will likely see various names mentioned in the reviews that are not the agent’s name listed with the reviews. (“Sue was the best!” “Bob was so helpful.” “I highly recommend Amanda!” when the agent’s name for the reviews is Tami.)
3. Avoid Internet Ads (in search results) when you search for an agent:
You’ll notice search results like “The Best 10 Agents In Dayton”. These companies charge real estate agents a monthly fee to be listed on their “Top Agents” list without any regard to their experience, sales history, or online reviews. Often these ads don’t tell you what criteria was used to determine what qualified the agent to be selected as the #1 agent or what they did to get in that position in relation to the agent who is #10 on the list. Even the popular Dave Ramey real estate agent ads require the agents to pay Ramsey an upfront fee or 30% of the agent's commission to be one of Dave’s ELP agents. (We know because at one time we paid to be one of Dave’s ELPs)
4. Checkout a Realtor's Designations
These designations, which often appear after a realtor's name (ie, Don Shurts, ePro, SRES, ABR), don’t indicate how many houses sold or how long they have been a Realtor but it does show the level of extra training the agent has received in order to serve their clients more effectively. Here is a brief overview of some professional real estate designations:
- Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR) - trains agents in all aspects of the home buying process
- Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) - agent receives training to assist the needs of the baby boomer generation, people born between 1946 and 1964
- Electronic Professional Realtor (e-PRO) - trains REALTORS® to master the advanced digital marketing techniques of today
- Military Relocation Professional (MRP) - trains real estate professionals who want to work with current and former military service members
- Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI) - in-depth knowledge of technical subjects as well as the fundamentals of real estate.
- Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) - teaches Real Estate Agents how to use home staging
- Certified New Home Specialist (CNHS) - comprehensive training for working successfully with builders, developers
When you are choosing a real estate agent, it's essential to look for someone who has experience, professional training, and a track record of success in the Dayton real estate market. You should also consider factors such as the agent's communication style and availability, as well as their ability to understand your needs and help you achieve your real estate goals.
Miami Valley agents Don & Cyndi Shurts of Keller Williams Advisors Realty would be honored to be interviewed for your next real estate needs. Feel free to call or text them at 937-241-2124.