The Port Royal market is one of Florida's finest, most affluent communities. As a result, it is critical when buying Port Royal real estate that you select a realtor with the qualities listed below. However, whether it is in Port Royal homes, Aqualane Shores, or Olde Naples homes, we continue to see bad deals happen to good people because of their realtor. Please read below so you can understand more about the characteristics of a good realtor. Remember, this is a huge investment, especially in Port Royal, so you want to make sure you select someone like Gulf Coast International Properties with the experience and reputation to deliver the best results for you!
Some qualities to look for when choosing your agent:
Accessibility: How easily is it to get ahold of your agent? Do they work another job full time and real estate is just a part-time gig? Having an agent with mobile email, such as a Blackberry or other smartphone, almost guarantees that the agent will be in-the-know regarding your communication and needs, even if they can’t respond immediately.
Reliability: Your real estate agent is your guide and is there to support you through the process by interpreting and advising you on situations that are unclear or unfamiliar. As your guide, your agent should promptly respond to your calls or emails and you shouldn’t have to worry whether they’ll get back to you. Follow up and follow through are important characteristics to possess. If you have to wait more than half a day for a response (and then the dreaded excuse), then you’re probably waiting too long.
Communication: Even if this isn’t your first home purchase (or sale), an agent should explain the process and what comes next so that your expectations can be set. Should your expectations go unmet, your agent will hopefully be in communication beforehand to explain why an issue or deadline may not be met and what can be done to fix it. Also, a real estate agent should keep you informed of their whereabouts - as when they may take a weekend away or may have a day of training and not be easily accessible to communicate via email or phone.
Experience and Foresight: The longer your agent has been in the industry the more experience they will have to be be able to predict and anticipate various circumstances and situations. This is a very important factor. If your agent can foresee an issue with an appraisal or detect that another party is not being honest then they can save you the frustration and the emotional stress that comes when dealing with last minute issues.
Trust and Honesty: It’s great when an agent is in-the-know and can almost literally predict the future of your transaction, but if they’re not honest and upfront with you then they’re worthless. If you have to doubt what you’re being told then you may want to reconsider beginning a real estate relationship with this particular agent. The scary thing is that this could be hard to detect up front if the real estate agent gives you a good sales pitch and promises you the world. Be skeptical and have them prove they are working for you and have your interests at heart. The sooner you know your agent is trustworthy and painfully honest, the better. You don’t want to be half-way through the process of buying or selling a house and realize your agent is treating you like a paycheck now that they have you sold and will ultimately drop you for the next hot prospect.
Best Regards,
Brad Johnson
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