The real estate market has changed drastically in the Barrie market and across Canada, and you need to make sure that your real estate agent is on the same page as you. The realtor needs to understand how to strategize and negotiate in this current aggressive seller’s market. They also must be extremely knowledgeable and have a high level of communication with you. You also want an agent that has the time to show houses with no notice, and one who can create a deal under an hour because how aggressive the market it.

There are thousands of real estate professionals across Canada and they come with a wide variety of work experience with selling, purchasing, and real estate investment. On the Barrie and District Real Estate Board we have over 1300 agents. So choosing the right realtor in your search is like finding a needle in a haystack, and if not careful it could cost you thousands of dollars or your dream home!

Here are the tops tips for choosing your perfect realtor.

Tip #1 Local Experience and Brokerage Matters

When you being your search for an agent make sure that you are choosing a local real estate business and a local agent. I know you might have a friend or family member giving you a deal on commission but knowledge of the local market is key. They will guide you in doing the right informed decisions with the local market knowledge.

Did you know that a lot of real estate boards throughout Canada don’t share MLS (property listings) to other boards. Which leaves thousands of agents blind to real estate data in other markets. In the Barrie, Ontario market, 30% of all listing are listed by Toronto agents which if your just a Barrie Board agent, you won’t see that data. That is why it’s so important to hire an agent that has real estate experience in the market you are buying, selling or if you have a rental. They will know the new listings and properties that isn’t seen by the public but was provided exclusively from other agents.

Ask them about the feedback or testimonials from previous clients and their experience with them is important as well.

Tip #2 Buyer Negotiation Skills

It just seems that every time a for sale signs goes in front of a house it get sold within days and over-asking price.

The top buying realtors today are the ones that coach you on the following:

1. Seller’s direction
2. What is term ‘Holding off offers’ mean
3. Pre-emptive-Bully offers and how are they used
4. Escalation clauses and how are they used
5. Creating two offers ready to go when putting an offer on ‘holding off offers’ property
6. What conditions to use in the offer
7. They teach about the dangers and advantages of using conditions
8. How they get the value on the home when putting in an offer
9. They set you up on auto search show what properties are for sale

The realtor has to teach you on how they need to protect you in the sale of a property. Their is a lot desperate buyers out there getting terrible advice from their real estate agent.

Tip #3 Technology Experience is Key!

Also the speed at which a transaction that needs to be done up for a sale of property is within hour today. 5 years ago, it usually would take a half a day to start the transaction, signed and submitted. Now, it’s nothing usual for a transaction to be created under an hour now.

A realtor has to be continuously working on their technology skills and have the latest technology.

Ask them about the following:

1. Do you use e-signature software for your transactions?
2. Do you have pre-built out transaction templates with clauses?
3. Can we go over the documents and conditions now, just in case we are rushed because I want to know that I’m signing?

Real estate is fast paced world that is leaving a lot of agents behind they didn’t keep with the technology. Ask them about how many sales they have done in the past two years in this crazy fast-paced because and that could identify their skill level in this market.

Tip #4 Are they getting back to you?

There are a lot of professionals in our industry, but agents must show their value in their level of communication to you. I have seen a lot of deals being lost out because the agent respond or react on time with a transaction.

I would go so far to test them on how quickly they get back to you. Send them an email first and with your phone number and see if they get back to you that day. If their interested, their going to get back to fairly quickly. I know even agents have family and a life to live, but this their career and they all know that they don’t work normal hours.

If they don’t get back to you right away, I would consider trying another realtor. There are a lot of realtors out there that work 24-hours in the market because it’s easy to lose deals when not responding on time.

Call me if you need coaching on choosing the perfect real estate realtor for you?

I have 14 years experience in the real estate industry on the operations side of the business and a Real Estate Broker in the Barrie and area. Contact me about if you are looking sell, buy, rent, multiple rental units and even if you have a commercial building.

Contact Information:

Broker:Theresa Kerr

Mobile: 705-828-1179

Email: theresa.kerr@c21.ca