One of the most important decisions you can ever make when deciding to buy or sell your property is choosing the right real estate agent. A good agent can help you navigate the buying process with minimal stress, whereas a not-so-good agent might make the process harder on you and your wallet than it needs to be.
Your goal when you’re ready to choose a real estate agent is to find someone you can communicate well with, and who shares your same goals—not just about buying a house, but doing so in a way that prioritizes your needs as a buyer and gets you the best home possible for the best price possible.
There is no magic formula for finding a great agent, though there are certainly steps that you can take to improve your chances. Below, we’ll go over what all buyers should look for when they’re going to choose a real estate agent in Ghana to help them with their home search.
Profound Market Knowledge
The real estate market is very diverse. Whether you’re buying in a large city, the suburbs, or in a small town, you’ll want a real estate agent who knows local market trends and patterns like the back of their hand and who can help guide you through the nuances of your specific locality. Inquire about the basics, like average time on the market for newly listed homes and average sale prices, but also ask about any unique trends regarding your local market that you should know about.
It’s important to ask a potential agent how long they’ve been buying and selling homes, but don’t forget to dig a little bit deeper into their experience. Ask the amount of time it typically takes their clients to find and close on their new home. You’ll want to choose a real estate agent who has a proven track record of not only getting buyers into homes fast, but also getting them a great deal, too.
At Floorspace Realty for example, we’re made up of a well experienced team which is knowledgeable about properties for sale in Accra. We offer free consultation either in person or virtually as our agents walk you through buying or selling your home with ease and clarity, while keeping you in control of the whole process.
Good Communication
As stated earlier, successfully buying a home is as much about communication between buyer and agent—and buying agent with selling agent—as it is about open houses and inspections. Do well to employ the services of an agent you can communicate well with, and who is willing and able to answer any and all questions that you might have about the home buying process.
Ultimately, you want to choose a realtor who you get along with. You’re going to be spending a lot of time together, so it’s important to work with someone whose company you enjoy, and who you just genuinely feel understands your needs. Trust your intuition on this one—if you’re getting bad vibes, trust your gut and find somebody else.
Positive Reviews
There are a lot of properties for sale in Ghana that can be found online with the names and contact numbers of their respective Ghana brokers attached to them. Online reviews are one of your best assets when it comes to choosing an agent. Read all of the reviews that you can find before selecting who you’ll work with, and look for an agent whose previous clients have only positive things to say about their experiences. If there are any complaints, be sure to distinguish between complaints about the individual agent versus complaints about the stress of the home buying process itself. Sites such as meqasa.com offer a catalogue of verified and trusted real agents in Ghana who can help you acquire property with ease.
For an offline search, you can begin by asking friends, families, coworkers, and anyone else whose opinion you trust on the matter if they have any agent referrals. Previous buyers are one of your best assets for finding an agent, since they can speak honestly about their own experiences. Plus, you can trust that if someone you know is giving you a recommendation, chances are it’s because they enjoyed working with that agent and would work with them again.
Willingness to Sign a Buyer-Agent Agreement
Word of mouth doesn’t really cut it in the court of law if you have a misunderstanding with your agent. It is important to find an agent who values contracts, agreements and is willing to keep records. This agreement is a valuable tool and an extra protective measure for the buyer and the agent.
When you sign the buyer-agent agreement, the document establishes an agreement between the buyer and the agent. It also outlines the agent’s scope and responsibilities to the buyer and gives the buyer the option to switch agents if you choose to. It also includes all the other details of the professional buyer-agent relationship, like the agent’s fees and commission, working timeline, and so on.
A full-Time Agent
Ideally, your agent should be a full-time agent, not someone doing it on the side as a hobby. Ask to see their credentials, including their real estate license, how long they’ve been in practice and how many transactions they complete in a month. Many people have become agents in an attempt to get rich quickly, not realizing it’s a legitimate profession that requires skill.
If you’re getting an unpleasant vibe, it might be time to walk away. You should never feel like you’re being pressured to buy a house or accept an offer you’re not comfortable with. If you’re in the negotiating process and the agent seems to be dismissive of your opinions, you may need to push back.
Conclusion
Finding a real estate agent takes time, but picking your agent carefully will pay off in the end. Follow these tips above and you’ll be well on your way to finding an agent that will help you find your dream home, or sell the home you already have.
Wondering about the right agent to guide you? Look no further than Floorspace Realty. Give us a call, +233 55 049 6399 or shoot us an email, info@floorspacerealty.com.
