Hiring a real estate agent in Albuquerque can be frustrating. So what are the steps on how to find a good real estate agent in Albuquerque?
Many local large real estate brokerages will spend thousands of dollars each month to ensure that the agents in their office are the most visible, whether it be online, in the Yellow Pages, or by erecting giant billboards in the most trafficked sections of Albuquerque.
However, the agents backed by the largest marketing budget aren’t always the best, and may not necessarily be a good fit for you and your circumstances. In today’s blog, we’re going to look at how you can find a good real estate agent in Albuquerque.
[NOTE: If you need to sell your Albuquerque house fast and can’t wait the to sell a home on the local market… we may be able to help by buying your house from you. We can make you an all-cash offer within 48 hours on your house in as-is condition. ]
How To Find A Good Real Estate Agent In Albuquerque – Get Reviews… Real Reviews
Online reviews of real estate agents are easily manipulated, and can be often times little more than paid advertisements. It’s important to get honest reviews from any agent that you’re considering, and any reputable agent will be glad to provide you with recent clients.
Also, reviews are one of the best ways to see how any real estate professional actually performs out in the marketplace.
As a last way to check out the agent… hit Google and type in “[name of agent] reviews” and see what pops up in the Google search. If you see a bunch of bad reviews on websites like yelp and others… see if the agent tried to respond and address those negative reviewers online to resolve the complaints.
Ask the Right Questions Of The Local Albuquerque Real Estate Agent
Ask the agent (or better yet, his or her former clients) the following questions to gauge the agent’s skill, and ability to represent you as a buyer or a seller:
- Was there any part of the process of buying or selling a home that clients were pleased or particularly displeased with?
- What was the asking price?
- What was the sales price?
- What properties have you worked with in my location?
- What about similarly sized properties?
It’s important to choose an agent who has experience working with homes similar to yours.
Check The Real Estate Agent’s Credentials
Check with the New Mexico Real Estate Commission’s website to verify the agent’s licensing. While you’re on there, you’re also often able to look into regulatory actions and complaints against the agent.
You should also ask the agent how long they’ve been buying and selling homes. If they’re representing a brokerage, ask how long they’ve been with that particular brokerage, and their history with other brokerages.
Above all, it’s important to choose a real estate agent in Albuquerque that you can trust. Regular communication is extremely important when selling your home, as in many cases, a house represents the majority of your net worth. A good agent will be able to answer questions such as:
- How many buyers have inquired about my home?
- How many of these inquiries came from serious buyers (not just window shoppers)?
- How many other properties in my neighborhood are for sale? What is the asking price for each of those homes and how long have they been on the market?
Ask The Local Real Estate Agent How They Plan On Selling Your House
Sometimes going the direct route is the best. In the case of looking for a local Albuquerque NM real estate agent, ask them what methods they intend to use to market your house for you that the other agents in town won’t do. And see what their answer is.
Usually the great ones actually have a marketing plan ready to go and will get your house out there and on the market in a big way.
This Is Where Low Priced Isn’t Always The Best
Often times Albuquerque NM home sellers want to go with the lowest priced option.
Heck, when you look at the numbers… if a real estate agent is earning 3% on a $100,000 sale… that’s $3,000 in fees just to 1 real estate agent (usually both agents representing the buyer and the seller earn commission)… it isn’t cheap. But just really do your research before you go with a cut rate agent or a flat fee agent… because that usually means that the service you’re getting is also a lower level service.
Some of the best real estate agents in Albuquerque have great marketing systems and are able to sell the exact same home faster and for a higher price than their competitors. So even if you find someone to sell your house at a 1.5% fee… look long and hard at whether you’ll be saving money long term. Cheaper fees does not necessarily mean more money in your pocket at the end of the sale.
The same goes for selling your house to a local real estate investor like Heritage Home Solutions, LLC. The highest priced offer isn’t always the best. Look at the terms of the deal the house buyer offers you… and ensure they can close on-time… because every month that goes by costs you money (your mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, etc.) to hold the property. Review past client testimonials as well, house buyers are notorious for being smooth talkers, but when it comes time to do what they said they would do, they fall flat.
It’s important to avoid low-quality real estate agents. These could be “rookies” who will do anything to make their first sale (including leaving dollars on the table). A good real estate agent can make selling your home an extremely smooth experience, and will work in your best interest.
So go out there and do your research and find a local real estate agent.
If you need to sell your house fast… we’d love to make you an all-cash fair offer on your house.