So, your family is growing and it’s time to upsize…but you need to sell your home first before you can afford to buy a new one. You get stuck just thinking about it and know you need a realtor, but not sure where to start. In our article today we will share our thoughts on how to find a real estate agent in Madison, MS and tell you all the secrets with some big dos and don’ts!
1. Avoid Superficial Factors:
The first thing is to ask for recommendations. Ask your friends and colleagues who they’ve had success with and why they liked that person? Don’t just go for the agent with the cute TikTok videos! And don’t just go for the name on big billboards, many times those agents have such a full plate with their large teams, they don’t have the time to give to that their clients deserve. Or, worse yet, they are more concerned about their own image, than pulling up their sleeves to go to work for you!
2. Interview Multiple Agents and Make Sure They are Responsive:
Don’t just go with the first agent you call. Be sure to interview a few agents but be up front and let them know that you will talk to a few and pick the one you like best. Have you ever been given a job where you weren’t interviewed first? Of course not! So, why wouldn’t you interview your agent before hiring them? If you call and agent and they don’t answer, leave a message, or send you a text…if it takes them days to call you back, that’s likely a red flat. You deserve and agent that will promptly call or text you back through the entire relationship. You should also go online and google the agent. See what their google reviews look like. Check out their website and do a search to see if they have produced any videos. Check out their videos to see if you can get a feel for their personality, sometimes you can tell by watching their videos if you will like the person or not, or if you think you will work well with them. You deserve to work with someone you feel compatible with…I mean, you can’t gel with everyone! When interviewing the agent, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask them how long they’ve been licensed, how familiar they are with the area, and how they plan to market your property. Make sure they will pay for professional photos of your home PRIOR to listing. In today’s online world, most buyers will decide if they want to tour a home based on the first few pictures they see. So, make sure your agent hires a professional photographer, don’t let them tell you their iPhone pictures are suitable, I promise you, they aren’t! And you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression! One other thing to make sure of, always work with an agent that lives in the area where you are house shopping. That agent will know the ins and outs of many of the neighborhoods and might even be able to help you find an off-market property if they are well plugged into the community.
3. Ask Questions:
How much do realtors charge to find a house? That’s a great question and don’t be afraid to ask the agent that in your interview process! I’m always surprised at how many people don’t fully understand how real estate agents get paid. So, ask them! A good realtor will easily be able to explain to you what they charge and how they are paid. And like my mama said, “You get what you pay for”. And this is especially true when hiring a real estate agent. Of course, there are plenty of discount brokerages in Madison MS. But you’re likely going to be doing all the work on your own, so unless you’ve bought and sold many homes, I don’t recommend it. Also, ask the agent about the contract, ask them the term of their typical listing agreement, it’s good to know how long you’re locked in, just in case things don’t go as smoothly as you like! Even if you don’t like the list price the agent suggests, listen to them. They are the expert. Picking an agent that agrees to list your home higher than other agents, will likely lead to a long time on market with many price reductions.
4. Trust Your Instincts:
Choose an agent that makes you feel confident AND comfortable. Finding an agent that fulfills both of those qualities can mean the difference in a pleasant experience or a horrible one! So, make sure both of your goals align from the start!
5. Choose Hardworking Local Agents:
If you want to find an agent in Madison, MS, be sure to check out our YouTube channel. Our channel is Living in Central MS brought to you by Taylor Realty Group. We are a small boutique firm of 4 agents that focus on helping buyers and sellers in Madison and Rankin Counties. You can really get to know us and decide for yourself before you ever call us if you think we’d make a good team, because we all know teamwork makes the dream work. So, check us out here: Living in Central MS YouTube Channel
If you’re thinking of moving to Mississippi, be sure and check out our website www.taylorgroupms.com, it has all MLS listings in Central MS and is updated every 10 minutes. Whether you're buying or selling, our team is here to help every step of the way. Contact us today to get started.
Taylor Realty Group
601-613-9100
