If you’re brand new to the house marketing scene, the experience can be daunting, confusing, and just plain stressful. Finding someone who is confident and knowledgeable to help you walk through your experience is just as intense! So, what are things you need to look for in a realtor in order to make your house market experience in the Kosciusko area a success? Here are three key things to consider when looking for a realtor who will work best for you:
1. Reliable Communication
There’s nothing more nerve-racking than trying to find your dream home–especially when the housing market is a seller’s market like it is currently here in Kosciusko County! With houses moving off the market so quickly, having a realtor you can trust to communicate with you efficiently is a must. Your #1 step to a successful home-buying experience is to find a realtor who finds out the best way to reach you when a home hits the market – whether that be email, your cell or home number, or any other means of communication. A great way to test out your realtor’s communicative abilities is to call their office.
If you leave a message, how long does it take for them to follow-up with your inquiries? The main goal is for you, as the client, to feel as if you’ve been kept in the loop every step of the way, and that you can rely on your realtor to produce results for you. It’s often beneficial for you to be upfront with your realtor on what it is you are expecting from them so they know how best to get you in your home as quickly as possible. Your realtor is your teammate, and a team is only successful in achieving an end goal if they communicate well.
2. Not a Salesperson
Everyone loves it when their realtor says yes. Is my dream home on the market? Yes. Did my offer get approved? Yes. Did the seller agree to fix the issues the house inspector found? Yes. It’s important to find a realtor who can turn your dreams of a perfect, new home in the Kosciusko area into a confident, “Yes!”
As equally important, however, is to have a realtor who can tell you, “no.” Do the pros of this property outweigh the cons? No. Is this house built on a strong, reliable foundation? No. Will this home serve the needs of an active, growing family? No. I need a virtually “move-in ready” home. Would this house meet that standard? No.
The best realtor you want working for you is not a salesperson whose only desire is to have houses sold, no matter what it takes. Rather, the type of realtor you want in your corner is a realtor who has learned what it is you are looking for in a home and steer you away from the homes which won’t fulfill your dream.
3. Knowledgeable of the Kosciusko Area
A reliable, trustworthy realtor that is working for you is the type of realtor who is willing to go the extra mile and do their research on each property they show you. But not only that, your realtor should have such an in-depth understanding of the housing market of Kosciusko County that they know what type of questions you should ask about the property and surrounding area even if you don’t. Many families choose to move into a community where their family can make memories together. If you’re new to the area, a realtor may be your first source of knowledge of what those experiences could include.
One of the best ways to make sure your realtor is an expert in their field is to tap into their knowledge of the surrounding areas. With over a decade’s experience under your realtor’s belt, you can guarantee success comes with keeping a finger on the pulse of the town—both economically and regarding the housing market. The longer the most successful realtors have served your community, the more ways you can rest assured they will use that knowledge to help you find the property of your dreams.
Kim Clark has over twenty years of experience in making her clients’ dreams a reality. Contact her today!