There are over 17,000 real estate agents in Oregon. Some are great at what they do, but a lot are not. Choosing the right agent in Salem can be frustrating. So what are the steps on how to find a good real estate agent in Salem, Corvallis, or anywhere in the Willamette Valley?
Many local large real estate brokers will spend thousands of dollars each month to ensure that their agents are the most visible, whether it be online, in the Yellow Pages, or by erecting giant billboards all over town.
But just because an agent or a brokerage spends the most promotional dollars doesn’t mean they’re the best, and may not be a good fit for your circumstances. In today’s piece, we’re going to look at how you can find a good real estate agent in Salem.
[NOTE: If you need to sell your Salem house fast and can’t wait the 3-6 months it is taking 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 offer within 24 hours on your house in as-is condition. ]
How To Find A Good Real Estate Agent In Salem – Get Reviews… Real Reviews
You’re probably only going to have the time and patience to interview three to five real estate agents. With so many agents working in the area, it’s hard to know where to even start looking for agents to consider. A great place to start is by asking family, friends, coworkers, or even your neighbors if they have worked with an agent they would recommend (or recommend against, for that matter). If you need more names to consider, ask someone you know that works in a related industry: a mortgage broker, appraiser, home inspector, or contractor.
Before you set up interviews, go ahead and check the online reviews. Remember, online reviews of real estate agents can be manipulated, and are sometimes little more than paid advertisements, so don’t believe everything you read.
Look for reviews on trustworthy, independent websites like Angie’s List or Yelp. While it’s still possible that reviews on these sites could be manipulated, it’s harder to do than on an agent’s own website.
After you check the online reviews, go ahead and ask for references from any agent you’re still considering. Any reputable agent will be glad to provide you with contact information for some of their most recent clients.
Also, reviews are one of the best ways to see how any real estate professional does out in the marketplace.
As a last way to check out the agent… go to 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 engage with those negative reviewers online to resolve the situation.
Ask the Right Questions Of The Local Salem 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 the client was pleased or particularly displeased with?
- What was the original list price?
- What was the sales price?
- How long did it take to sell?
- 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.
You should also ask some questions about how the agent plans to market your house.
Check The Real Estate Agent’s Credentials
Check with the Oregon Real Estate Agency to verify an agent’s licensing. While you’re on their website, you’re 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 an agency, ask how long they’ve been with that particular agency, and their history with other firms.
Above all, it’s important to choose a real estate agent in Salem 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 inquiries have been made about my home?
- How many of these inquiries came from people likely to make a purchase (not just window shoppers)?
- What other properties in this neighborhood are for sale? What is the asking price of those homes?
Ask The Local Real Estate Agent How They Plan On Selling Your House
The best real estate agents will have a marketing plan and will get your house out there and on the market in a big way. Simply listing the house on the MLS is not a marketing plan.
Questions about the marketing plan can include:
- How do I know you’re pricing the house correctly (they should be providing you a Comparative Market Analysis so you know what similar houses are selling for)?
- Will they schedule an open house (this can be disruptive to your schedule if you still live in the house)?
- Who will photograph the house for the listing (professional photographs, inside and out, helps houses sell faster)?
- What avenues (besides the MLS) will you use to market the house?
- What’s your marketing budget?
This Is Where Low Priced Isn’t Always The Best
Often times Salem Oregon 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 $250,000 sale… that’s $7500 in fees just to one 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 Salem have great marketing systems and are able to sell homes faster and for higher prices. 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.
The same goes for selling your house to a local real estate investor like Willamette Home Buyers. 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.
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 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 fast, fair offer on your house.
We can make you a no-obligation offer in 24 hours or less and you can weigh that option against going with a real estate agent.
Just click the link below and fill out the short form on the next page to get the painless process rolling.