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A Better Way to Buy and Sell Real Estate and 10 Things to Look for in a Real Estate Agent

A Better Way to Buy and Sell Real Estate and 10 Things to Look for in a Real Estate Agent


This is a one-stop real estate website for all your home buying and selling needs in Vancouver, BC.

Contact us if you would like more information on finding your dream home or preparing to sell your home.


Anna Smith

RE/MAX Crest Realty (South Granville)

1428 W 7th Ave

Vancouver, BC V6H 1C1


Email Us or Call  (604) 505-1647 anna@annasmithrealty.com


10 Things to Look for in a Real Estate Agent

Whether you're buying or selling a home, you need the right kind of partner

Finding the right real estate agent to represent you can be challenging. There are many agents to choose from and almost every homeowner you meet will have a recommendation. It may take a bit of time but interviewing and evaluating agents is worth every minute. Buying or selling a home is no small task, so you want to make sure you get the right person in your corner. Here are 10 essential things to look for in a real estate agent. 


10 Things to Look for in a Real Estate Agent    (6 mistakes some Home Buyers Make)

  • An active listener
  • Good references or referrals
  • Honesty
  • Passion
  • Negotiation skills
  • Support
  • Effective Communication
  • Strong online presence
  • Decisions based on data
  • Experience


1. An active listener 

You want to make sure that your agent listens to you when you speak and takes your wants and needs into full consideration. Your agent will be representing you in what’s sure to be one of the largest purchases or sales of your life, so making sure they understand your priorities is crucial. Look for an agent that remembers your wish list, contacts you when they see something that fits your needs, and who doesn’t monopolize your conversations. Good agents are typically good salespeople, but make sure they don’t try to sell you out of your own needs. If you don’t feel heard, it’s time to start looking for another agent. 

 2. Good references or referrals  https://rankmyagent.com/annasmith

There’s no quicker way to find out what you can expect from your real estate agent than by contacting their previous clients. Some buyers and sellers skip this step when evaluating agents, but we’d highly recommend putting the time into getting honest feedback. Agents should come to listing appointments or meetings equipped with recent references, preferably in the cities you’re looking at.  If your potential real estate agent was referred to you by a friend or family member, make sure you ask them in detail about how the agent operated on each of the nine other points on this list.

 3. Honesty, especially in difficult situations

This can be hard to gauge, but it’s extremely important to find an honest agent whose opinion you can trust. Your agent’s experience and opinion on making or accepting offers should be extremely valuable to you, but that will only be the case if you can fully trust them to operate in your best interest. You want to find an agent who will tell you their honest opinion even when they know their thoughts won’t be pleasantly received so that you can truly make decisions with as much information as possible. An honest agent that stands by his or her instincts is indispensable when making difficult decisions.

 4. Passion 

Unlike some of the other items on this list, it’s fairly easy to tell whether or not an agent is passionate about their job and the real estate industry in general. You want an agent who is excited about getting the highest offer possible on your listing, or who is combing through new listings before you are to find you your dream home. They should know the latest Canadian real estate market trends and truly relish discussing them with you. Buying or selling your home should be an enjoyable process, and a good real estate agent who is passionate about their job can make all the difference.

 5. Negotiation skills 

They say a good real estate agent pays for him/herself, and the negotiation table is the place where this can really happen. Reading whether you should make a strong offer, a counter-offer, or a low offer requires a good understanding of both the seller’s situation and the listing agent’s negotiation style. On the other side of things, pricing a listing properly is somewhat of an art form that can set the stage for a successful negotiation and timely sale. Be sure that your agent has the negotiating skills needed to get you a good offer, or to get your offer accepted.

 6. Someone with support 

If you’re a first time home buyer, you might be surprised by just how many people you’ll need to be introduced to during your home buying process. Your agent should be able to recommend a notary, a mortgage broker, a home inspector, and any other potential service providers you may need during the home buying process. An agent who has built these kinds of strong relationships is likely someone respected in the industry, which should give you confidence when they are negotiating on your behalf. Before writing an offer…

 7. Effective communication skills

Take note of how your potential agent speaks to you, how they treat other people, and how they communicate with the world on social media. You want to make sure your agent will be able to sell effectively which requires the ability to communicate clearly. One of the best ways to judge this is to see how they sell themselves when you meet them. If they make a strong case for you to use their services, you’ve likely found a good communicator that will represent you well.

8. A strong online presence 

Don’t just evaluate your agent in person, you should also look at their online profiles to see how they’re selling themselves, and their client homes, online. Check to see if they have a following on social media, featured profiles on websites like REW, and where their previous listings were shared online. Typing their past sales addresses into Google Search will help give you an idea of where you can expect to see your property online if you list with them.

9. Decisions based on data 

When you speak to a potential agent, you want to make sure they’re backing up their opinions and suggestions with hard data. Select an agent that knows the market inside and out, and don’t be afraid to ask specific questions about your area of interest and see what type of knowledge and insight they possess. It doesn’t have to be a formal pop quiz but making sure your agent knows the area you want to buy or sell in is important.


10. Experience 

To be clear, we’re not suggesting you should only work with 20-year industry veterans. Experience is certainly not everything, but having it is an asset that you should consider when evaluating potential agents. Your agent should be able to provide you with examples of past buying and selling experiences that lead to positive outcomes. You also want to make sure that they know and have good relationships with other industry professionals, as they could be negotiating with them in the near future on your behalf. 

If you find an agent that ticks off the 10 boxes above, you should be in for a great experience. To start the process, use this link to find an agent.


https://www.rew.ca/agents/94279/anna-smith/recommend?utm_source=agent+request+recommendation  REW recommend Anna Smith

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TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS
06/09/2021

MILESTONE MOVE: TIMELY TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS

Why finding a qualified real estate expert can help make the home-buying process more enjoyable.

4min read
 

Are you done paying someone else’s mortgage (goodbye, rent money!) and ready to find a home to call all your own? As a first-time homebuyer, the process of purchasing real estate can be daunting.


If you’re soon to buy your very first home, check out these tips to prepare for the tremendous (and exciting!) journey ahead.

Budget wisely

Saving up and budgeting accordingly is the smartest way to enter the home-buying process, especially as a first-time buyer unaccustomed to the extra costs associated with buying – and moving. In addition to a down payment (which can be as little as 3%), ensure you have saved adequately for the closing costs, brokerage fees and the moving process.


When the time comes to submit an offer on a home, stick close to your budget. Any home you move into will have surprise costs down the line and especially as you get acquainted in the new space and decorate, so spending more than you bargained for upfront can usurp funds for maintenance and repairs.

Speak to a mortgage professional

Over the past year, mortgage rates have dipped to record lows, making it an appealing time for homebuyers who planned on taking out a mortgage to do so.


Before the home-buying process begins, first-time homebuyers should consider consulting a mortgage professional of their choice. A mortgage broker will be able to advise buyers on the advantages of pre-approval or pre-qualification, which can be important in today’s market where homes are selling quickly (and over asking price). Doing so will also help shape and determine a realistic price range of properties.

Start the property search online

Over the past year, buyers have taken to online shopping more than ever – especially for their future homes. Use advanced online resources – like remax.ca and the RE/MAX Real Estate Search App – to jumpstart your home search. Combing through listings online allows you to see a wider range of properties – and rule out some before it’s time to tour.


The “Favorite” feature on the RE/MAX app, for example, allows you (and any home search partner) to like, dislike and save properties all in one organized digital space. It's truly helpful when it comes to perfecting the home search from home.

Use a trusted real estate professional

When it’s time to make one of the largest purchases of your lifetime, don’t go through the process alone – especially in today’s fast-paced, competitive market. Working with a full-time agent who has expertise in all facets of real estate can help make the experience more streamlined and less stressful.


A trusted real estate expert knows the ins and outs of your local housing market, has fine-tuned negotiation skills, can identify (and tackle) issues along the way, and is prepared to find the best fit for you and any family members (pets included). Plus, real estate agents have tips and tricks specifically for submitting offers in a seller’s market.

Be ready to compromise

Remember that your first home won’t necessarily be your last. Know that you may not find a home with all of your dream features within your price point. This is why it’s important to make a list of “wants vs. needs” to help guide your home-buying journey.


What features can you live with in the meantime until you can renovate? And what features are a deal breaker? When reflecting on these factors, consider what budget-friendly DIY projects you could complete upon move-in to help make some of those less-desired features work for you. It could be fixes as simple as a new coat of paint, peel-and-stick wallpaper, resurfaced kitchen cabinets or new hardware.

Look at the whole picture

With the prospect and excitement of homeownership on the horizon, it’s easy for first-time buyers to get emotionally attached to properties throughout the search process. Remember to analyze each potential home holistically, considering location, accessibility, commute times and proximity to frequented places – in addition to the house itself.


Right now, homes are selling fast. This means it’s wise to not get too attached to any particular home in the event of being outbid or losing the sale. But don’t worry – your perfect first home is out there. It just may take you (and your RE/MAX agent!) a little bit of time to find the right one.

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