When you are buying or selling a home in Aspen, you need to select a strong real estate professional. You want to work with someone who is experienced and knowledgeable. Above all else, however, you want to find a Realtor® you can trust to protect your interests and help you make sound financial decisions.
Here are some tips for selecting the right real estate professional to represent your home purchase or sale:
1. Talk to Multiple Agents
It’s always beneficial to meet with multiple real estate agents or brokers. Search online or ask people you know and trust if they have any recommendations. Talking with multiple real estate professionals will help you find the one who feels like a good fit with your personality, communication style, needs and goals.
2. Interview Them
Ultimately, you are paying the Realtor® for his or her services. You have the right to ask questions and essentially interview them before you sign any contractual agreements. Use this opportunity to get to know them and understand how they do business.
3. Make a Connection
No two real estate professionals are the same, and every home buying or selling situation is unique. Not all agents will be a great fit with your style or personality, so you want to have a good connection. At the same time, just liking them isn’t enough. You still want to make sure you are working with someone you trust to help guide you through the process.
4. Research Their Track Record
The Internet and social media have made real estate a very transparent business. It is not hard to find information about any real estate agent or broker. If they don’t have much of an online presence, that might be a red flag. At the very least, use your time talking with them to find out everything you want to know. Research past sales records and current inventory, learn if they have any unique skills sets, what their accolades are, and be sure to read any customer reviews. This kind of preparation can help you narrow down your list of agents before you start to schedule any meetings.
5. Prioritize Communication
Some real estate professionals will only tell you what they think you want to hear, which isn’t always helpful. Others may be too blunt and difficult in a negotiation to work on your behalf effectively. Find someone who communicates in a way that makes you feel comfortable and and confident they are going to be able to deliver on your best interests.
6. Meet in Person (if Possible)
Out-of-town buyers and sellers may not have this luxury, but technology has bridged the gap a lot in recent years. You should schedule a personal meeting (or at least a face-to-face Zoom or FaceTime call) before you sign on any dotted lines and commit to a real estate representation agreement.
7. Find a Market Specialist
There are many different types of real estate specialties. Some agents/brokers may focus on a very specific geographic market while others may specialize in certain types of property. Most real estate professionals have some sort of niche where they are most experienced and proficient. The more you understand the market where you are buying or selling, the more you can work to find an agent who knows that market well.
8. Trust Comes First
Above all else, you want to work with a real estate professional you trust. Whether it’s the experience they offer or the way they approach their customer service—or ideally, both—you want to feel a sense of trust and confidence that they are the right agent for you and your specific real estate situation.
If you are looking to buy or sell a home or investment property in Aspen or Snowmass, contact me today. Let’s set up a meeting and I’ll be happy to tell you more about me and my experience in this nuanced real estate market.
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Brittanie Rockhill
Aspen Real Estate
DRE # FA.100019229
