(Photo by Matthew Henry from Burst)

Congratulations on making the decision to sell your home… or buy one! This is a fun time, but it can also be a stressful one, so you want to make sure to have an expert on your side to guide you through the process. But with so many excellent real estate agents to choose from in the Northern Virginia area, how do you decide how to choose an agent for you?

Here are the top qualities you need when you choose an agent that’s right for you: 

Highly Recommended 

With so many agents in the area, it would be surprising if you didn’t know someone — or know someone who knows someone — who works in real estate. This is why referrals are so essential! Word of mouth is highly important, so a recommendation from a previous client can really tell you if you’re in good hands with an agent that can meet your needs. Online reviews are helpful, but in today’s highly personalized market, a strong recommendation from an individual you trust that can share specifics about an agent’s professionalism and performance can help you choose an agent that is highly qualified in the Northern Virginia area. 

LIST WITH ELIZABETH® is proud to share testimonials from so many of our clients who are happy with the work we’ve done to buy or sell their homes. 

Listening 

Perhaps the most important quality a real estate agent can have is the skill of listening. A good agent knows that hearing a client’s criteria clearly — sometimes even understanding unspoken needs — is the only way to ensure those needs are met. 

A good agent listens as much as, or more, than they talk, and knows to ask the right questions to get at the heart of a buyer or seller’s requirements. In short, agents who are great listeners are more productive and close more deals because they better understand the needs of the customer and what is expected of them.

Strong Communication

Due to the market’s time sensitive nature, frequent updates can keep you from experiencing frustration. Along with listening, other communication skills are also imperative, because dealing with an agent who doesn’t communicate can be one of the most maddening experiencing when buying or selling a home.  

There are a lot of plans, strategies, and negotiations, and while the agent will be handling those for you, you want to be kept in the loop, so it’s essential that you select an agent that understands what level of communication you need… as wells how you best like to receive it. 

Candor

While optimism is endearing, when you are looking to buy or sell a home in today’s hot real estate market, you want an agent who is 100% honest and upfront. Sometimes having those frank discussions about pricing, staging, bidding, and all of the other aspects of the process can be tough, but you want someone who always keeps your best interests at the forefront and isn’t shy about standing up for you and telling you like it is. 

Obviously, the best agents in the Northern Virginia area are always trying to achieve top dollar for their sellers and the best deals for buyers, but a candid agent will still communicate with you honestly about where you truly stand in the sale.

Knowledge 

Everybody wants an insider’s knowledge, and the real estate industry is no different! Not only do you want to choose an agent who understands the current market and what it takes to sell or chase the house of your dreams, but you also understand that the local community surrounding your home may be just as important as its actual walls. 
More buyers are searching for home-based on neighborhoods, so if your agent doesn’t know much about the local community, the result could be a costly error. Best to choose a seasoned professional with strong ties to the community so you can rest assured they understand what they are selling and know all of the benefits of the area.

At different points in the process, the real estate agent is a salesperson, a buyer’s advocate, an analyst, a business manager, a consultant, a negotiator, a marketer, and so much more. While there are many qualities that can make someone an excellent agent, these five are especially important to finding someone who you can work with to meet your needs and achieve your successful transaction. 

We want buying or selling your home to be the best experience you can imagine. Contact LIST WITH ELIZABETH® for testimonials or to hear more about our strong connection to the Springfield, Burke, and surrounding communities.