Pick an agent, any agent
Buyers and sellers of Charleston real estate pick their agents in any number of ways and it's pretty understandable considering that you can't turn over a rock and not find a real estate agent.
There's always friends and family, neighbors and co-workers. Surely someone in your family has a real estate license, perhaps your Aunt Louise's nephew Louis just finished real estate school and obtained his real estate license. Or maybe your friend Fred has a friend of a friend who is an agent. And in my neighborhood alone, there are at least a half dozen real estate agents living and working (OK, it's a large and popular neighborhood).
But a co-worker, goodness, if you go that route, you are choosing someone who isn't even a full time real estate agent. This isn't a game of chance, it's your money and the biggest investment most people make in their lifetime.
If you're selling your home in Charleston, do you choose the real estate agent who suggests you can get the most money for your home. That's called "buying a listing" because no matter the marketing skill of the agent, the market will ultimately determine the price of the home, not the real estate agent's opinion of value. Or do you choose the Multi Million Dollar producer (that's not really that many transactions) or Charleston's number one agent but not get to work with the top producer but be assigned to a team member because the top agent is too busy for you. Or do you choose the agent who will charge you the least (don't forget, you get what you pay for).
Perhaps you're buying a home in Charleston and you want to pick an agent. Do you run into the first real estate office you find and have an agent doing floor duty help you. Or do you call the names of the agent on a bunch of For Sale signs and have a dozen different real estate agents working simultaneously on your behalf. Or do you search online and wind up becoming a "lead" instead of being a client.
I would suggest you find a "high tech, high touch" real estate agent but what do I mean by that? Find a real estate agent who is tech savvy and available.
Does the real estate agent respond quickly to your email inquiries, answer their phone or return phone calls promptly. Is the agent knowledgeable about and familiar with the Charleston real estate market and especially the area of Charleston that you currently live in or want to move to. Does the agent listen to you and understand your wants and needs. And most importantly, do you feel comfortable with the real estate agent that you can trust them to help you with a major financial decision.
Bottom line, the best real estate agent to choose when buying a selling a home is the best real estate agent you can find. Choose wisely.
Photo courtesy of Flickr by jaxpix.