Tips for finding the best realtor near Pacific Beach
It goes without saying that finding the best realtor near Pacific Beach, where there’s certainly no shortage of them, could be slow-going. Given that a home purchase or sale is a significant financial decision, the standards should be high, and you should play it safe. Besides some of the basic requirements, such as excellent credentials and experience, you would also want to seek a professional you can trust to give their best when negotiating on behalf of your interests. However, with proper knowledge on how to go about it, you will find that it is not as challenging as you might think.
Survey your inner circle for personal referrals
When seeking out potential real estate professionals, a great starting point is your network of family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and acquaintances in and near your target area – anyone you can trust to give you an honest assessment. A high percentage of people find their agents through referrals. Therefore, perhaps there is someone you know and could reach out to for their recent successful experience selling or buying a property. However, keep in mind that, despite their genuine recommendation, this particular agent still may not be what you are looking for. For example, your objectives may not match that of your referee.
Try online research
Another way of finding the best realtor near Pacific Beach would be online searches. Some websites allow you to go through their agent listings in whichever ZIP code you’re considering. Secondly, they display reviews, comments, and ratings from the past clients of these agents, as well as an agent’s history so that prospects can see the number and place of their sales. Although something you might consider giving a try, we wouldn’t call it the best bet since many of those agents reach such lists by paying a fee to the website’s owners. So, to be sure of their quality, think about hosting a meet-and-greet and setting up an interview. Experts from Family Affair Moving suggest that this is the best way to approach the process.
Drive around your target community and visit open houses
Besides extensive online research for top agents in this specific location, you’d want to, if possible, pay a visit to your future neighborhood, drive around and look for “sold” banners. You can also attend open houses and meet the agent selling them face to face. This way, you can inspect both their knowledge and conduct when talking to potential buyers.
Pay a visit to a local real estate specialist
A local agent with many done deals in and near your target area will be able to provide the necessary information about prices, trends, and amenities regarding that neighborhood. This note is especially important to take if you’re moving and coming here from other areas, and you aren’t familiar with any local realtors. In this case, you can ask a relocation specialist to hook you up with the best realtor near Pacific Beach.
This is because the experience of buying a house in San Diego, and, consequently, Pacific Beach, is specific in itself, due to the market’s incredible competitiveness. If you’re looking to buy on your own, you’ll most probably not have luck finding a seller willing to negotiate for more than 10% of the listed price. However, with the help of a local specialist, you will have greater chances of reaching a deal that suits you.
Evaluate the background of the potential candidates: learn the good, the bad, and the ugly
Create a shortlist of at least three agents you are considering and start your own assessment by thoroughly researching each candidate from the list individually. At this point, you are looking for some general qualities and qualifications a realtor should possess.
- You’ll want your agent to have at least four to five years of experience, regular monthly transactions, proper knowledge of the market, and to be licensed. Moreover, by contacting NAR, you can make sure that your agent indeed is a realtor.
- You can study their online presence for their listings, history, and any signs of recognition within their resume.
- Check your candidates’ online reviews. A couple of negative reviews are not yet a cause for concern; however, if there are more than just one or two, it is a red flag one shouldn’t ignore.
- The local Better Business Bureau’s website will be able to answer your questions regarding any complaints your agent might have received in the past.
- Talk with their former clients to find out more about their personal experience with the agents that ended up on your list.
Interview the prospects: trust your instincts
Naturally, you’ll want to meet these realtors face to face by setting up an interview for each of them to see if they meet your needs and expectations. This is the crucial stage, during which you can see if you’ve spotted a true professional who has your best interest at heart, especially if you are thinking of purchasing a luxury home.
Ask everything you want to know when looking for the best realtor near Pacific Beach
Once you set up a meeting to speak to them in person, be ready to ask many questions. This person needs to be open to all discussions that concern this job, and anything different might be a sign of a red flag that could turn out to be a real estate scam. Some of the questions right for this occasion would be:
- How long have you been working in real estate, and, more specifically, this area?
- What’s your strategy for selling and/or buying properties in a competitive market, and how will you handle my specific situation?
- How will you market my home and attract potential buyers, or how will you find a home that aligns with my standards?
- Are you working alone or as a part of a team?
- What’s the number of your currently active clients, and can I contact your former clients to use as a reference?
- What’s your style of communication, and will you be able to respond quickly?
They need to be able to educate you about the area’s real estate market
Your realtor should also go to great lengths to educate you about the trends in the neighborhood you’re considering. This kind of information from your agent should help paint a better picture:
- Statistics show an upward trend for the median sales price. In 2019, the median price was $1,345,000 for houses and $605,000 for condos. Whereas, in 2020, the numbers increased to $1,350,000 for houses, but decreased to $600,000 for condos.
- It’s best that you know if your place will sell quickly. People selling their homes tend to drive down the price if it sits on the market for too long.
- Your realtor should know and tell you if a certain home you’re looking to buy is overpriced, or if you can sell your home for more than what it’s listed at, in case you’re selling. Houses sell for above 95% of the price listed, whereas condos above 100%.
When you know how the market situation is, you will know what you pay range is. Then you can decide what are the things you want to keep once you sell your home, and what you need to throw away due to lack of space.
Check if there’s professional chemistry present in the room
Whether it be a buying vacation home remotely or your new permanent residence, you want this process in the best hands. Besides providing the necessary info and displaying their knowledge, you should make sure that you are comfortable around the realtor you choose and feel like you can be honest with them. Whether you think you will be able to get along with them or not is essential. Therefore, at this stage of finding the best realtor near Pacific Beach, you should look for signs and trust your instincts. You’ll want to work with someone who is both honest and professional, someone who understands and prioritizes your needs, and someone who can guide you through the process as smoothly as possible. Good luck!