Hiring a real estate agent in Rhode Island can be overwhelming and leave you wondering if you made the right choice. Most people only interview 1-2 realtors before settling on a choice. With this in mind, I’ve laid out some steps on how to find a good real estate agent in Rhode Island?
Several large real estate brokers in the Ocean State will spend thousands of dollars each month to ensure that their agents are the most visible, whether it be online, in radio commercials, or by erecting giant billboards in the most trafficked sections of Rhode Island.
However, the agents backed by the most promotion dollars aren’t always the best, and may not be a good fit for your circumstances. For instance, some real estate firms only specialize in luxury listings or servicing first-time homebuyers. In today’s piece, I’m going to look at how you can find a good real estate agent in Rhode Island and ensure they understand your specific needs.
[NOTE: If you need to sell your Rhode Island house fast and cannot 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 all-cash offer within 24 hours on your house in as-is condition. Just fill out the form on my site of give me a call for a no obligation offer! 401-684-3937]
How To Find A Good Real Estate Agent In Rhode Island – Get Reviews… Real Reviews
Online reviews of real estate agents are easily manipulated, and can be often times little more than paid advertisements. It’s important to get honest and recent peer reviews from any agent that you’re considering hiring – and any reputable agent will be glad to provide you with recent clients contact information if you are seeking a review of their efforts.
Also, reviews are one of the best ways to see how any real estate professional does out in the marketplace. If you are working with a newer agent who does not have any reviews yet, a simple trick is to research the broker they work under as a reflection of the style and quality of their individual work within the firm.
As a last way to check out the agent… head 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 Rhode Island Real Estate Agent
Interviewing a potential realtor before hiring them is an important step to make sure you’re making the best decisions for your situation. 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 clients were pleased or particularly displeased with?
- What was the asking price?
- What was the sales price?
- What properties have you worked with in my location?
- What about similarly sized properties?
- How do you go about determining the value of a home in this market?
It’s important to choose an agent who has experience working with homes and needs that similar to your own.
Check The Real Estate Agent’s Credentials
Check with Rhode Island’s real estate regulatory authority (Rhode Island Association of Realtors) to verify the agent’s licensing is active. While you’re on that website, you’re also often able to look into potential regulatory actions and complaints which have been filed against the agent.
You should also ask the agent how long they’ve been buying and selling homes for. 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 Rhode Island that you can trust and feel comfortable with. Consistent and honest communication is extremely important when selling your home, as in many cases, a house represents the majority of a sellers’ net worth. Furthermore, a good agent in RI 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
Sometimes going the direct route is the best. In the case of looking for a local Rhode Island real estate agent, ask them which house selling services they offer that the other agents in town may not. And see what their answer is. Any agent worth their salt should have a strong plan and processes in place that meet and exceed your needs. A well thought out marketing plan will make all the difference in the amount you are able to sell your home for, so be sure the agent you decide to hire has a plan in place! For such a small market, Rhode Island has national appeal, therefore, marketing your home to as many potential sellers as possible will ensure a stream of offers come your way.
This Is Where Low Priced Isn’t Always The Best
Often times Rhode Island 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 $100,000 sale… that’s $3,000 in fees for only one real estate agent (usually both agents representing the buyer and the seller earn commission)… it isn’t cheap and should be accounted for when thinking of listing your home. It is important to do your research before you hire a cut rate or a flat fee agent… that usually means that the level of service you’re getting may also be cut rate. Conversely, many new agents will also offer lower commissions for selling your home, this may have more to do with the fact that they are trying to get started as opposed to the quality of their work.
Some of the best real estate agents in Rhode Island have great marketing systems in place 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 in the grand scheme of things if your house does not receive as many offers over asking price.
The same goes for selling your house to a local real estate investor like ourselves here at Home Tree. The highest priced offer isn’t always the best. Look at the terms of the deal the house buyer offers you… and ensure they are legitimate and 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 in Rhode Island. A good real estate agent can make selling your home an extremely smooth experience, and will always 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 all-cash fair offer on your house.
We can make you a no-obligation offer in 24 hours or less so that you can weigh that option against going with a real estate agent. There is no harm in doing so and it may even help get the journey of selling your home off to an informed start!
Just click the link below and fill out the short form on the next page to get the painless process rolling.