It is imperative to find the right Real Estate professional that will understand and listen to your needs.  You will be spending a lot of time together, discussing short and long term goals and experiencing the stresses that come with such a large decision!  You will want to be completely comfortable with your agent, have total confidence in their skills and maintain clear lines of communication.

 So where to start?

-Ask around....friends, family members or co-workers who can highly recommend an agent from positive past experience.

-Search the internet with key words that describe the type of property you wish to buy/sell.

-Visit open houses in the neighbourhood you wish to purchase or sell. The salesperson hosting the open house will likely be knowledgeable with surrounding home values and nearby amenities.

-Drop in the local Real Estate office and jot down a couple of names.

-Look for someone who will take the time to meet with you for a home buying/selling consultation.  This person will ideally be a consultant, who will get to know your needs, lifestyle and be able to walk you through the process.

-Ask if they have a list of reliable services they can recommend such as home inspectors, mortgage brokers, real estate lawyers, stagers, painters, etc.

-Once you have a short list, set up an appointment and interview them.  You are in fact hiring them so ask your questions and see if you are compatible!

 A good real estate professional takes pride in their work and provides high value service!

by Johanna Pigeon, Broker

as published in www.prettysavvy.ca