Finding the right Edmonton real estate Agent is essential to your buying or selling process. Like any professional endeavour, you want to make sure you’re walking alongside someone who has your best interest at heart. Many Edmonton REALTORS® are ready to help you buy your dream home or sell your treasured one. And we are one of them! If you’ve never worked with an agent before, you’ve found the right article! Here are five things you can ask your prospective REALTOR® to make sure you’ve found the right one.
Are you a selling or buying agent?
While most real estate professionals are fluent enough to help you on either side, you may want to consider working with someone who specializes in your needs. For example, Realty Unleashed is primarily a listing brokerage. We certainly help buyers too, but our services are most appealing to those listing a property. Because we offer free home staging and cleaning services, we tend to work more with sellers. Clients preparing to list their property find that we are incredibly helpful, making the process as smooth as possible.
What neighbourhoods have you worked in?
Researching REALTORS® in your neighbourhood is good practice! A lot of real estate professionals have specific neighbourhoods that they specialize in. Perhaps they happen to sell or buy many homes in X area; they become familiar with the ins and outs of X. For example, in Edmonton, Realty Unleashed sells a lot of homes in Westmount. A few of our staff live in the neighbourhood, and we are incredibly familiar with the Westmount market. That’s why we are a go-to contact for folks who want to sell or buy in the area. Let’s say you’re looking to buy a home in a rural area, it is in your best interest to work with someone who is fluent in rural properties and lifestyles.
How will communication work?
You and your real estate professional must have good communication. Before you decide who you’re working with, have a conversation together. What are things you need from your professional? And what are the things they need from you? How urgent is this transaction for you? Maybe this is your first time selling or buying. In that case, you’ll want to make sure your real estate professional is willing to walk you through the process. Your work together should be as a team. If you both decide you have a good rapport, that’s a great indication of your working relationship.
What commission can I expect to pay, and what do you include in your service?
Every REALTOR® has a different commission rate. While most of these rates are generally very similar, there are some discrepancies. Our services are included in our brokerage fee of 7% on the first $100,000 and 3% on the remaining balance of the sale price. Half of this fee is offered to the brokerage facilitating on the buyer’s side. As we mentioned earlier, each client’s needs differ based on whether they are selling or buying. Check with your potential real estate professional about what their services mean to you. It’s up to you to decide if these services are worth their commission cheque.
Do you have other reputable professionals you can pass along?
When you buy a home or sell one, you will be working with more than just a REALTOR®. There are many moving parts to the process. You want to ensure that you’re working alongside people you trust. Once you’ve found your Edmonton real estate agent you’re happy with, ask them to refer you to other professionals who will be involved as well.
A few other professionals that can and should be passed along to you:
- Real estate lawyers
- Mortgage brokers
- Mortgage lenders
- Title company
- Moving companies
- Home inspectors
Just like you want to trust your real estate professional, you also want to trust the others you’re working with. You will be sharing personal and sensitive information with people who are virtually strangers. It can help ease some discomfort if your trusted REALTOR® can pass along people they regularly work with.
The be-all, end-all
There is, typically, no shortage of real estate agent in Edmonton. You can rest assured knowing you will find someone with who you connect and feel comfortable working alongside. Regardless of whether you are selling or buying, you will be working closely with your REALTOR®! It’s important to ask a few hard-hitting questions before you sign a contract with your professional. We hope these gave you a good idea of some things to consider. Looking for a few more questions to ask? Check out another article we’ve written with buyers and sellers in mind!
Still don’t have a REALTOR® in Edmonton or Calgary? Reach out to us!
