A real estate investor always has the option of purchasing an investment property for sale without the help of a real estate agent. However, if you are not familiar with the buying process, you risk making huge mistakes in some of the most important steps. You may also not know how to go about negotiating a deal. This may lead to you paying more for the purchase of the investment property, for example.
Related: Do You Need to Find a Real Estate Agent to Buy Investment Rental Properties?
Therefore, working with a real estate agent when buying an investment property can greatly smoothen the process, especially if you are a beginner real estate investor. Many beginners often find themselves asking, “How can I find the best real estate agents for buying houses near me?”
As a beginner real estate investor, the best real estate agent is someone who is well-versed in the process of real estate investing that can help you get the best possible deal. A good real estate agent will also have a good understanding of the housing market in your area.
It’s also important to note that not all real estate agents are equal. You have to find one who is right for you. The right real estate agent will be the difference between a successful buying process and a long, expensive, and stressful one.
If you have been asking yourself, “How can I find the best real estate agents for buying houses near me?”, read on as we reveal to you some tactics for finding the best real estate agents in your area.
1. Get Referrals from Family and Friends
Do you have people close to you that have recently gone through the process of buying an investment property? Chances are that such people have all worked with a real estate agent at some point. You can get a referral from family members, neighbors, friends, and business associates who have had personal experience with a real estate agent and liked them. Get recommendations from close people that you know and trust. If people you know like the agent and would work with him/her again, then you will probably also like that agent.
However, never let their referrals be the only determining factor. Not all referrals will be good. Moreover, just because the agent was right for them does not mean they will be a good fit for you. No matter who recommends them, ensure you do your due diligence before settling on an investment agent. This is especially important if you are still new to the area.
Related: How to Find a Real Estate Agent Near Me
2. Ask Other Real Estate Professionals for Recommendations
Apart from referrals from family and friends, you can also find the best real estate agents by asking other real estate professionals for recommendations. Most real estate agents would be glad to refer buyers to associates. This is especially if the service you are in need of is not their specialty or within their capacity. For example, some real estate agents deal with only commercial property while others deal with residential property. You can also find the best real estate agents from bank loan officers and mortgage brokers.
3. Attend Open Houses
To find top performing real estate agents, you can also consider going to open houses in your area. You can find open houses by searching online or through signs on real estate investment property.
Real estate agents are usually in attendance there. The advantage with open houses is that the work environment is typically not too formal and you can freely interact with them. This makes open houses a great opportunity to meet agents in person and size them up.
Are they friendly and open with potential purchasers or are they silent and aloof? Are they polite and informative? Do they seem knowledgeable? How do they present themselves? Do you see yourself working with them?
4. Search for Neighborhood Signs
You can go for a walk or drive around your local real estate market and make a note of any listing signs. ‘For Sale’ signs may be on billboards, on the front yard of an investment property, local park benches, etc. Who is selling the real estate properties? The seller of such properties could also refer you to a real estate agent if one is not listed on the sign. Also, if one local real estate agent seems to have many properties, it may show they are a good bet.
5. Look for Ads in Local Publications
Top performing real estate agents will often run real estate ads in local publications. These ads may be for selling specific real estate property or simply to promote their services. Such real estate agents are usually successful and have a team of professionals working with them. If this is the kind of investor agent you are looking for, be sure to browse your local magazines and newspapers for house ads in your area.
When you find someone that seems like a good fit, look up their website. If they are specialists in your neighborhood, you can set up a meeting with them. Take a good look at their qualifications and gauge if they meet your needs.
6. Use Real Estate Websites like Mashvisor
There are many real estate websites that can refer real estate agents to you. But with Mashvisor’s agent profiles, you’ll be able to quickly and easily find the best real estate agents in the United States. Schedule an appointment now to learn more about how we can connect you to the best real estate investment agent.
Bottom Line
The question “How can I find the best real estate agents for buying houses near me?” has many possible answers. However, the above tips are among the best to get you started. Finding the best real estate agents will greatly help you in finding the right houses for rent, performing comparative market analysis, and closing a deal.
However, not all real estate agents out there are suitable for you. If you work with someone who does not know what they are doing, you are likely to just end up losing money and good opportunities. It is worth the extra effort and time to find the best real estate agents with relevant skills and experience. Regardless of the route that you follow, ensure that the agent you pick understands your specific goals.
Related: How to Find a Real Estate Agent for Investment Properties
