Hiring a real estate agent in Connecticut can be frustrating. So what are the steps on how to find a good real estate agent in Connecticut?
Many local large real estate brokers will spend tens of thousands of dollars each month to ensure that their agents are the most visible, whether it be online, in the Yellow Pages, or by erecting giant billboards in the most trafficked sections of Connecticut.
I know of 1 real estate agent that pays Zillow $10,000 a month to be shown to buyers to need a question answered. Another local brokerage pays $40,000 a month for similar services on other top brand listing websites.
However, the agents backed by the most promotion dollars aren’t always the best, and may not be a good fit for your circumstances. In today’s piece, we’re going to look at how you can find a good real estate agent in Connecticut.
[NOTE: If you need to sell your Connecticut house fast and can’t wait the 3-6 months+ it is taking to sell a home on the local market… we may be able to help by buying your house from you. We can make you an all-cash offer within 24 hours on your house in as-is condition. ]
How To Find A Good Real Estate Agent In Connecticut – Get Reviews… Real Reviews
Online reviews of real estate agents are easily manipulated, and can be often times little more than paid advertisements. It’s important to get honest reviews from any agent that you’re considering, and any reputable agent will be glad to provide you with recent clients. But they will likely only send you clients that have had a good experience with them. I would be hard pressed to find an agent that would send you clients that they parted ways with because they didn’t meet expectations.
But, reviews are one of the best ways to see how any real estate professional does out in the marketplace.
As a last way to check out the agent… hit Google and type in “[name of agent] reviews” and see what pops up in the Google search. If you see a bunch of bad reviews on websites like Yelp and others… see if the agent tried to engage with those negative reviewers online to resolve the situation. I have always like tot go to The Better Business Bureau and TrustPilot. Those sites are not so easy to scrub a bad review from
Ask the Right Questions Of The Local Connecticut Real Estate Agent
Ask the agent (or better yet, his or her former clients) the following questions to gauge the agent’s skill, and ability to represent you as a buyer or a seller:
- Was there any part of the process of buying or selling a home that clients were pleased or particularly displeased with?
- What was the asking price?
- What was the sales price?
- What properties have you worked with in my location?
- What about similarly sized properties?
- How long did it take you to close the sale?
- What kind of problems occurred during the sale?
It’s important to choose an agent who has experience working with homes similar to yours. Avoid the agents that sell anything and everything. They may treat your Burlington family home the same way they treat a 3 family in Hartford. They should understand the story behind your home and have a different way of selling it than any other house.
Check The Real Estate Agent’s Credentials
Check with your state’s real estate regulatory authority to verify the agent’s licensing. While you’re on that website, you’re also often able to look into regulatory actions and complaints against the agent.
You should also ask the agent how long they’ve been buying and selling homes. If they’re representing an agency, ask how long they’ve been with that particular agency, and their history with other firms. A lot of times a new agent will be inexperienced and will have problems handling tough situations. There are more licensed real estate agents practicing than there are houses for sale in the United States in 2023. Those goes to show you that not every agent will have experience.
Above all, it’s important to choose a real estate agent in Middletown that you can trust. Regular communication is extremely important when selling your home, as in many cases, a house represents the majority of your net worth. A good agent will be able to answer questions such as:
- How many inquiries have been made about my home?
- How many of these inquiries came from people likely to make a purchase (not just window shoppers)?
- What other properties in this neighborhood are for sale? What is the asking price of those homes?
Ask The Local Real Estate Agent How They Plan On Selling Your House
Sometimes going the direct route is the best. In the case of looking for a local Connecticut real estate agent, ask them how they intend on selling your house for you that the other agents in town won’t do. And see what their answer is.
Usually the great ones actually have a marketing plan. They will walk you through each an every step and give you a time line of when your house will sell and for what price. They will get your house out there and on the market in a big way.
This Is Where Low Priced Isn’t Always The Best
Often times Connecticut home sellers want to go with the lowest priced option.
Heck, when you look at the numbers… if a real estate agent is earning 3-4% on a $300,000 sale… that’s $9,000 in fees just to 1 real estate agent (usually both agents representing the buyer and the seller earn commission)… it isn’t cheap. But just really do your research before you go with a cut rate agent or a flat fee agent… because that usually means that the service you’re getting is also a lower level service.
Some of the best real estate agents in Connecticut have great marketing systems and are able to sell homes faster and for higher prices. So even if you find someone to sell your house at a 1.5% fee… look long and hard at whether you’ll be saving money long term. You house might sit on the market for a long time, not be put in front of a lot of home buyers. They might have a lot of extra fees for photos, staging and showings that will cost you more in the long run.
The same goes for selling your house to a local real estate investor like Next Door Properties. The highest priced offer isn’t always the best. Look at the terms of the deal the house buyer offers you… and ensure they can close on-time… because every month that goes by costs you money (your mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, etc.) to hold the property. If you are struggling financially, those are more unpaid bills that are piling up that will come out of the sale of the home.
It’s important to avoid low-quality real estate agents. These could be “rookies” who will do anything to make their first sale (including leaving dollars on the table). Even your family friend who is an agent is likely not a good option either. They might offer you a big discount but if they are not an active agent they might not have the skills or expertise to get the most buyers to see your property. You might save a few thousand dollars, but it could cost you tens of thousands when there aren’t enough buyers competing for your home. A good real estate can make selling your home an extremely smooth experience, and will work in your best interest.
So go out there and do your research and find a local real estate agent.
If you need to sell your house fast… we’d love to make you an all-cash fair offer on your house.
We can make you a no-obligation offer in 24 hours or less and you can weigh that option against going with a real estate agent.
Just click the link below and fill out the short form on the next page to get the painless process rolling.