Real Estate Affordability July 20, 2022

How to Know You’ve Found the Right Agent in California

A real estate agent showing a home to a happy family

Whether you plan to buy a home or sell it, you need a real estate agent. In the first case, a real estate agent will help you find your dream home, a home that suits your budget and all the things on your must-have list. In the second case, they will help you sell your home quickly, easily, and for the best price possible. However, let us warn you – for an agent to do all of this, they must be professional, reliable, and a Californian. In other words, they must be right! But, in the sea of Californian real estate agents, how do you know you found the right one? Well, that is why we are here. That is, we will share with you some advice on how to know you’ve found the right agent. Thus, if this is something that interests you, keep on reading.

You Like Being Around Each Other

Real estate agents are not only there to help you sell or buy a home. They are not there to help you stage your home while living in it or even to help you inspect a home either. They are there to make the process of home buying and selling as pleasant as possible. And the only way for them to do this is to make you feel good while being around them.

Of course, your real estate agent doesn’t have to be your best friend. You don’t have to have a strong relationship. You just have to look at them as a person of trust who will treat you well and who you don’t mind telling anything real-estate-related. If you have an agent that fits this description, that is how you know you’ve found the right agent

A couple talking to a real estate agent.

Your real estate agent must simply make you feel good.

They Are Available

This one just goes without saying. One of the best ways to know you’ve found the right agent in California is when you are working with somebody who is always available and responsive. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should call your agent in the middle of the night and expect him to answer your questions immediately. But, it means that you can always reach him during working hours. Moreover, if they are with another client and can’t see you or answer your call immediately, it also means that they will reply as soon as possible and never leave you waiting for too long.

Don’t hesitate to require this quality of your real estate agent. After all, you are paying for his time and for his services! This also applies to making an interstate move to California once you buy a home – you will know that you have found the right team for the job if you see they are responsive. The same goes for contractors, handymen, inspectors, and all other people you plan to hire to make this buying and moving-in process easier.

They Asked You to Get Pre-Approved First

Many buyers leave mortgage-related issues for after they have found their dream home. But, this is a mistake – and all good real estate agents know it. Once you have found your dream home, you need to act swiftly if you don’t want somebody else to ‘grab’ it. And, you won’t be able to act swiftly unless you are pre-approved. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is something that might take weeks or even months – have that in mind the next time you start viewing homes for sale.

Speaking of finances, that is something you should also assess before viewing homes. If you don’t plan on getting a mortgage, assess your loan options or savings. Your real estate agent can help you with all the financial calculators out there. Still, you must be the one making the decision on how much you can actually spend on a home.

A calculator and a notepad on dollar bills.

Know how much you can spend on a home before you hire the right agent!

The Right Agent Is Always Honest, Even When it Hurts

You know, when you walk into a store and try something out – sellers will come and say anything to make you buy that something. They will say how amazing you look, how that piece was made for you, etc. They will do everything in their power to make you buy their product. Unfortunately, that can often happen with real estate agents! There will be some agents who always say nice things, always sugar-coat the reality, and praise every decision of yours. If you found an agent of this kind – run. A good real estate agent will always tell you the truth – even if it hurts you and even if it hurts him. Once you come across an agent that seems honest, real, and straightforward, you’ll know you’ve found the right agent in California!

Again, the same thing applies to movers and to all other companies you hire to help you find, move in, and settle in. Experts from mod-movers.com suggest that you should have an in-person meeting with them to make sure they are “real.” So, for instance, if you want to hire them to help you out with your interstate move, go to their headquarters first and be sure to have a long list of questions ready. Then, ask all of those questions and listen to the replays carefully. Just like agents, they should give you the answers even if they think you will not like them.

The right agent talking to clients.

The right agent is always honest with you.

The Right Agent Is Not Just Reactive but Also Proactive

Some real estate agents are just reactive – they have a meeting with you, they listen to your wishes, and they act upon them. But, that is not a good sign. You’ll know you’ve found the right agent in California, or anywhere else in the world, if that agent starts being proactive. If they ask questions, give you suggestions, develop new ideas, etc. This is especially important if you are buying or selling a home where you are unfamiliar with the market. Your agent is the one that should be proactive and advise you on what you should and shouldn’t do. If they just stay reactive, you might make a buying or selling mistake.

We mentioned some of the things that might help you know whether you’ve found the right agent in California, but you already know that there are many more. However, the most important among them all is your ‘gut.’ Always listen to your gut – don’t hire anybody that seems suspicious and inexperienced, and remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is!