Are you buying or selling a home in Lake Chelan? In today’s dynamic real estate market, it’s important to work with a Realtor with the expertise and knowledge to guide you in making the right decisions.
How can you find a real estate professional that you can fully trust? Consider these tips:
- Get referrals from people you know
- Interview a Realtor’s previous clients
- Check a Realtor’s credentials
- Look into special designations
- Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) – Given to agents who completed additional training on residential properties
- Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR) – Given to Realtors who specialize in home buying processes
- Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) – Given by the Real Estate Business Institute to Realtors who specialize in representing sellers
- Look into the Realtor’s track record
- Work with a local expert
Referrals are a great way to find the right Realtor, as you get firsthand accounts on how one works. Ask for recommendations from friends and colleagues who have recent real estate transactions. Other potential sources are professionals who regularly work with Realtors, such as insurance brokers, bankers, and home improvement contractors.
Ask a potential real estate agent for a list of previous clients and take the time to talk to some of them. Ask the clients about their experience with the Realtor, the type of property they worked on, the sales price, and how long the transaction took. You’d like to work with someone who has in-depth knowledge of the area and the type of property you’re interested in.
Choose a real estate agent who’s a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). NAR members are licensed professionals who are committed to abide by the association’s strict code of ethics. Consider, as well, checking with the state’s regulatory body for any complaint or disciplinary action against a Realtor.
Special designations are definitely a plus. This means the agent has taken additional training and studies to be a certified specialist in a particular area. If you’re selling a luxury property, for example, you might want to work with a Realtor who is a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS).
Some agents have more than one special designation. Other certifications to look for include:
How long have they been in the business? An experienced Realtor would have developed the right negotiation skills and know how to close a good transaction. Consider other factors that reflect on the agent’s previous successes, such as sales volume and industry awards. Industry awards, in particular, are reliable endorsements as they are given only to professionals who have proven and measurable achievements.
It’s important to work with a local agent who is intimately familiar with the area where you want to buy or sell. As the saying goes, real estate is local. Even in the same area, home prices can vary greatly from one neighborhood to the next or even from one block to the next. A local expert will know about nuances like this.
For buyers, a local agent will know where to find the home that best matches your needs and preferences. For sellers, the agent can use their local knowledge to play up your location’s best features and attract the right buyers.
We at Coldwell Banker Cascade have helped hundreds of homebuyers and sellers in the Lake Chelan area for over 20 years. We will be happy to hear from you and provide you with all the information you need about our services.
Looking to buy or sell a home in Chelan, Manson, Orondo, Brewster, Pateros, Twisp, or Winthrop, or other nearby communities? Get in touch with Coldwell Banker Lake Chelan Properties at 509-682-7777, or send an email to info(at)cbchelan(dotted)com.