In areas where property values are high, such as in San Diego, there is always an over-abundance of realtors. The barrier to entry is rather low, compared to other professional careers, and successful realtors can stand to make a ton of money in a good market.
Since there are so many realtors in San Diego—it can sometimes feel like there’s a real estate office on every corner—it can be difficult to know which one to choose. Here are 4 tips for finding the best realtor to help you buy or sell a house in San Diego.
Make Sure the Real Estate Agent Knows Your Area of San Diego
There are many different neighborhoods in San Diego, and you want to make sure you hire a real estate agent that is familiar with yours, or the one in which you are looking to buy. Selling real estate in Downtown San Diego is very different than selling homes in the more suburban areas, or in neighborhoods with large custom homes.
Ask any real estate agent you are considering how many homes they have helped their clients buy or sell in the last year in your specific area (or similar areas). A realtor who knows your area will know how to price a home appropriately if you are selling, or help you negotiate the best deal if you are buying.
Ask them about their Marketing Strategy If They Will Be Selling Your San Diego Home
If you are selling a home, any real estate agent you hire should have a marketing strategy that includes more than just putting your home on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Ask them how they would market a home like yours. Will they do open houses? Will they use social media platforms, like Facebook or Instagram? Do they do email marketing for their listings? Also, ask if they will have professional photographs taken of your home. If you have a high-end home with many custom features, this is highly recommended.
If You’re a Buyer, Know Your San Diego Real Estate Agent’s Availability
If you are a homebuyer, make sure you work with an agent who can accommodate your schedule. If you can only view homes on weekends, or if you need to review or sign paperwork in the evenings, make sure your agent is OK with this. It would also be good to know if a real estate agent works full time or is a part time agent. Some agents only do real estate as a “side gig” to earn some extra money to supplement their regular income. It’s fine if you want to hire such a person, but know that their availability may be more limited and they may not be able to respond as quickly to your calls or emails. If you’re someone that will need a lot of hand holding throughout the process, make sure you hire someone who works as a full time real estate agent.
Know How Long the San Diego Real Estate Agent Has Been in Business
Everyone has to start somewhere, including real estate agents, but it’s always a good idea to hire an agent with experience. An experienced San Diego real estate agent will be familiar with how to deal with all types of situations that come up and will be able to reassure you when things get difficult. If you choose to hire a new real estate agent, make sure they have good support in their office from more experienced agents or their broker.
Ready to start looking for the perfect San Diego real estate agent? Take a look at the agents in our San Diego business directory.
