Top Realtor Qualities to Look for In Philadelphia Area

Finding a Realtor you trust and who you enjoy working with can take significant work. If you've bought or sold real estate in the past, you know that not all agents are created equal. It's important that you find a professional agent who understands your market, your neighborhood, your goals, and your financial situation. This is not the time for you to pick a “yes man” to be your agent. In our latest post, we will outline some of the best qualities of a top agent!

A quality agent will play many roles: ally, confidant, counselor, and advocate just to name a few. There are several personality traits top agents will exhibit, and below are the business skills they should possess. If you are NOT finding these traits and skills in your Realtor candidates in the your market, you are doing something wrong, or need to skip the Realtor path!

Qualities of a Top Realtor | What to Look for in Philadelphia

Honest

This seems like a no-brainer, but you will need to know your agent is being honest with you at all times. This means sometimes telling you things you might NOT want to hear. They should be upfront with you about what they are doing to sell your home and what to expect throughout the entire process. If you have a country style kitchen in today’s market you need your Realtor to politely set your expectations why that décor is going to limit your sales price.

Problem Solver

Your agent should be someone who is quick on their feet. Someone who can handle a last-minute snafu with tact and grace. They will do whatever it takes to get the job done, tacking any problem head-on before it escalates into something bigger. Problems don’t go away… they either kill deals, or the Realtor agent kills the problem. To find your killer agent, ask them about a difficult problem they have solved for a client in the past 12 months.

Engaging

Your agent should know how to draw people in. How to make them want to know more about a property. They should have a sharp eye for staging, and selling to the emotions of buyers. Excellent conversational skills AND listening skills are a MUST. Their personality should be professional and warm, while showing confidence discussing challenging topics. Buyers want to feel comfortable, and work with someone who is “real”. If your agent puts you at ease, with your 1980’s style kitchen, and flower wall paper, telling you he or she will get top dollar for the house the way it is, it’s probably time for you to run.

Attention to Detail

You are paying your agent for a reason. They should have all bases covered. They should tend to things you may not have even thought of. Moving your car out of the driveway for photos, taking down your kid's diploma during a showing, hiding the trash cans when people view the home... these are all small things, but they have big subconscious effects on your potential buyers.

Motivated

A great agent will love what they do. Some people love real estate and they genuinely love the process of helping people buy and sell homes. They are motivated beyond money, and instead simply LOVE being good at what they do.

Knowledgeable

Never stop learning is our motto and we believe the same to be true for top agents. They should be abreast of everything going on the real estate world, especially in your local market.

Look for an agent who is certified in many areas or who has documented their training and seminars on their resume. An agent in your corner who really knows their stuff is one of the best assets you have in successfully selling your home.

Proactive

They should always be one step ahead of you. They should also gently push you if things need to get done. They know what it takes to sell, and they should work with you to make those things happen.

Some agents will put in little effort and hope for a buyer to come along. This isn't the strategy of a top agent!

Be Well Connected

You know the people that seem to know everyone in town? This should be your real estate agent. The more people they know, the more likely they are to be able to spread the word about your house.

They will also be able to offer great recommendations for cleaning, staging and repair work.

They Listen

Did we mention listening skills? Yes, we did. This trait is so important, we’re revisting it again! We all know those people who talk over you. The ones who you try to have a conversation with, but they constantly interrupt you, leaving you wondering if they heard a word you said.

Each situation is different and a good agent will listen to your needs, goals, and expectations from the sale. It is your house and your voice should not go unheard.

However, you are hiring a professional for a reason, and you should always factor in their opinion when making a decision about your house.

They Have References

Not just selected references, ones they have handpicked. But rather ask them about their most recent 10 or so clients. What would they have to say about the experience? A top agent will have no problem providing references from their most recent clients!

Do you want to work with some of the BEST agents in the Philadelphia area? Look no further! Send us a message now letting us know about your goals! Or give our team a call anytime!

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