8 Things to Look for in a Realtor

             Buying a house can be scary, especially if it's your first time. More than likely, you have no idea what to expect. It's a bit like expecting a baby, in those ways: frightening and exciting at the same time! There are a lot of technicalities and special situations that can arise when it comes to closing on a home. But, a lot of the stress that can come with home buying can be alleviated by finding a quality real estate agent that is right for you.

             We have two home purchases under our belt (and one sale) and let me tell you, it can be difficult finding a realtor that is just right for you! (Or maybe I'm just picky.) But don't let me scare you. We ended up finding a wonderful realtor when we purchased our current home, so I want to share some tips to hopefully make it easier for you to find the perfect realtor and avoid some of the mistakes we made.

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Nakturnal.

8 Things to Look for in a Realtor

*Trustworthy: Trust your gut instinct on this. If something doesn't feel quite right or something seems off when working with a realtor, even if you can't quite put your finger on what it is exactly, find a new realtor. There's no reason to stress out even more worrying about whether your realtor has your best interest in mind.

*Comfortable to be around: This kind of goes along with the first point. We found that the home buying process was much more enjoyable when we found a real estate agent we could get along with easily.

*Not overbearing: We had a horrid woman one afternoon who thought she knew what we wanted and needed better than we did. Needless to say, that was the first and last time we worked with her! Be sure to find someone who truly listens to your wants and needs and heeds them when trying to find properties for you.

*Responds to messages in a timely manner: Please, PLEASE, keep in mind that you are more than likely not your realtor's only client. He/she will not always be able to respond to your messages immediately. And really, that's just not realistic.

However, I believe a reasonable expectation is less than a day, even if it's just a quick text, such as “Hey, I got your message and I'm looking into it. I can give you a call in the morning.” Certain times of year and certain areas have short turnover times when it comes to how long houses are on the market before they're snagged up. With that being said, you still want someone who responds fairly quickly so that you don't miss out on viewing a property before someone else puts a bid on it!

*Respectful: Definitely be sure to find a realtor who doesn't make you feel like you are wasting his/her time. Who wants that, right?

*Doesn't rush you: Purchasing a house is a big deal! You want to have ample time to look a place over, especially if you're really interested in it and considering putting an offer on it. Again, be conscious of the fact that your agent has other clients, but if you're going to need more time to look properties over than he/she expected, communicate that to your agent. If he/she is not able or willing to give you that time, find someone who will!

*Stays within budget: Obviously, unless you're one of these crazy rich people on shows like “House Hunters”, you are going to have a pretty specific price range that you want/need to stick to. Personally, I would be leery of agents that repeatedly try to show you properties that are a lot more over your budget than you're willing to go. You know how much you are able to afford: Not your realtor or your bank. (That's a whole other story!)

*Actively searches for properties: Passive real estate agents are the worst. They can make you feel like you're not worth their time. Plus, you especially don't want a lazy realtor when the market is hot or you need to find a new home quickly! While you will likely be finding most of the properties you want to look at through your own searches, it's nice to get suggestions from someone else too. They may be in touch with sources that you aren't even aware of! Our real estate agent let us know about the home we're living in now before we even saw it listed online.

             For some other considerations when it comes to choosing a real estate agent and purchasing a home, be sure to check out “9 Red Flags to Watch for...” and “First-Time Home Buyer's Guide”.

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Nakturnal. Mixed Bag Mama received compensation for this post. Regardless, all opinions are my own. All photos courtesy of HER Realtors website.