How to Find Real Estate Agent in Georgia As a First Time Home Buyer
Most first-time homebuyers in Georgia often spend hours researching the home buying process, from finding a mortgage lender to saving for a down payment.
While research is good for helping you prepare for house hunting, you’ll still need a real estate agent to help you find your dream house and guide you through the entire home buying process until you move into your new place.
Buying a home for the first time is challenging, and you’ll need a good real estate agent to help you avoid the obstacles and get your dream home. Sadly, knowing how to find and choose the best agent is often very hard for first-time homebuyers.
Hence, we’ve put up this guide on how to find a real estate agent in Georgia. We will address how to approach a realtor, ways you can find one, why you should hire a real estate agent, and questions you should ask before finally settling with one.
Suppose you don’t want to go through this whole process, visit https://timstoutteam.com/ to hire an experienced and professional buyer agent from Tim Stout and Associates.
Tips on Approaching a Real Estate Agent for Hire
Before your first meeting with a realtor, we recommend completing some preliminary steps. Start with ensuring you get preapproved by the mortgage lender. That way, you can plan your budget and know the type of loan you’re qualified to receive.
Don’t wait to hire a real estate agent so they can help refer you to a lender. Georgia is a hot housing market, so timing is crucial. Then decide on the type of home you want, including preferred neighborhood, home design, and other additional features. That way, they get to work with a clear image of your preference.
Even if you’re looking for cheap houses for sale in Georgia, identifying what you want will enable the realtor to find your dream home effortlessly. Before hiring a real estate agent, ensure you interview them and ask some critical questions we will discuss at the end of this guide. That way, you’ll set the right expectations, and the realtor will know how best to proceed to find your dream home.
Ensure the real estate agent you choose is licensed and runs a full-time agency. Check for their experience, certification, and training. That way, you’re sure of their professionalism and commitment.
Also, make sure that the agent is actively involved with the local real estate organizations. Strong professional ties with others will enable the realtor to negotiate on your behalf easily.
Ways to Find a Real Estate Agent
A report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that buying a house might take up to 8 weeks or more. Thus you need a real estate agent to make this process easier and worthwhile. You wouldn’t want to end up with a home that you’ll detest after all this house hunting stress.
The following are ways you can find a real estate agent in Georgia:
Visit realtor.com®
You can visit realtor.com® and choose from the millions of registered real estate agents on the site. Remember to filter active professionals located in the part of Georgia you’re interested in moving to and look out for agencies with special credentials like Real Estate Negotiation Expert.
Ask Your Mortgage Lender
While going for a preapproval, you can ask the mortgage lender to refer you to a professional realtor that they’ve worked with to help a client. Ensure you conduct further research on the realtor just to be sure.
Utilize Facebook
A report from NAR shows that 76 percent of real estate agents use Facebook to get new clients. This means you can use your Facebook for more than having fun with friends online. Don’t forget to do further researches on any realtor you meet on Facebook.
Request Local Referrals
Consider asking family and friends to recommend any professional real estate agent they know. However, ensure that any recommended realtor has sufficient knowledge of the Georgia real estate market.
Why You Should Look for a Buyer’s Agent
As a first-time homebuyer, you might be wondering what a buyer’s agent is and its relationship with real estate agents; we’re here to address your concern. In the real estate market, there’s the buyer’s agent and seller’s agent.
A buyer’s agent works specifically to protect the homebuyer’s interest while the seller’s agent does the opposite. Besides helping you find homes for sale, a great buyer’s agent will guide you through the entire home buying process, including the following:
Help You Make Offers
After searching for Georgia homes for sale and finding one that you like, you’ll need to go ahead and make an offer. Your buyer’s agent will advise you on the amount to offer and the contingencies to add to the contract based on the market analysis and property type.
A good buyer’s agent like Tim Stout will explain the contract terms, walk you through the process, and answer your questions.
Negotiate With the Seller
After you’ve made an offer on a house you like, the buyer’s agent will notify you of the seller’s response and how best to proceed, whether to accept the counteroffer from the seller or negotiate further on the terms and price.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Real Estate Agent
The following are crucial questions to ask before hiring a real estate agent:
What Distinguishes You From Other Real Estate Agents?
Ask about their connections in the market, ability to deliver on their promise of finding you the best home, and communication skills. Their answer will disclose their specialties and if they’re the right fit for the job. Concentrate on their negotiation skills. It’ll be vital for getting you a fair price.
How Do You Handle First-time Homebuyers?
This question will enable you to discover if they have experience working with first-time homebuyers. That way, you’ll know if they can offer you adequate support.
How Do You Keep Clients Informed About the Entire Home Buying Process?
You’ll want an agent that will keep you updated with the home buying process seeing as there are numerous steps involved.
Beyond Facilitating the Transaction, What Other Services Do You Provide?
While every real estate agent can guide you through the home buying journey, some can go the extra mile to share information on social events, the local schools, and the overall neighborhood.
Summary
Working with a real estate agent is something you mustn’t joke with as a first-time homebuyer in Georgia. Ensure you choose at least five realtors before interviewing them and hiring one.
Ask the questions mentioned above and weigh their answers before making a decision. Hopefully, with this guide on how to find a real estate agent in Georgia, you’re on your way to buying your dream home sooner than you think.
You can skip all these processes and view affordable yet great houses on Tim Stout and Associates website. Tim Stout is a seasoned realtor that has helped thousands of first-time homebuyers buy their dream houses. Allow him to do the same for you by contacting him now!