Whether you’re purchasing your very first home or making a second (or third) move, buying a home is a milestone event. There’s a lot that goes into it, as we’ve shown in several of our blog posts over the course of this year.

having the right support from the beginning to end is essential. So, what do you need from a realtor when buying a home?

Here are some key characteristics and skill sets that you want to look for when choosing a Realtor to work with for the purchase of any home or property:

1. Local Knowledge of the Market in the Neighborhood’s and Surrounding Areas You Are Interested In

2. Experience Handling All Types of Home Purchases

3. Strong Negotiation Skills

4. Access to Extensive Agent to Agent Network

5. Offers a Comprehensive Home Search Engine

Your Real Estate Professional should have extensive knowledge and understanding of the market trends for the neighborhoods and surrounding areas you’re looking to buy in. Sometimes, you may only have a School District in mind and it’ll be up to your Realtor to help you narrow that down to a specific area withing the School District. This knowledge and expertise will help immensely not only in your actual home search but also during the negotiation period.

Each home purchase is unique so having a history of successful transactions goes a long way into ensuring your Real Estate Professional can handle anything that may come up in your purchase. That history should include all types of home purchases: first time home buyers, downsizers, job relocation, up-sizers, etc. Look through reviews and ask about their history when interviewing or considering any Realtor.

When you work with a Real Estate Professional, they will handle the negotiations with the listing agent. Those with strong negotiation skills will know how to present your offer in a way that will appeal to the seller but also ensure your bests interests are kept in mind. When the inevitable negotiation occurs concerning the offer, your Realtor will work hard to keep this balance and get your offer accepted. It’s a skill every Realtor MUST HAVE and can be evident from their past history of transactions and in your dealings with them. See how the negotiate their terms with you to determine how they’ll go to bat for you.

Access to an extensive Agent-to-Agent network means that your Realtor can find off-market deals that may be better suited for you than what is currently listed on the market. Everyone is looking for the best opportunities for their clients so having a network to tap into, especially one with plenty of local ties, is essential!

Buying a home can be competitive, especially depending on the local market conditions. It’s important that your Realtor can provide you with a comprehensive home search engine that has numerous filters to help narrow down to only the homes you’ll absolutely love. In addition, it needs to be able to update in real time so you know immediately when a home becomes available and when it’s been claimed by another buyer. Platforms like Zillow and Realtor.com have a delayed update and only your Realtor can provide you with access to MLS (multiple listing service) which has all of the above.

The Steve Ritter Team is a family of Real Estate Professionals who have serviced several counties throughout Pennsylvania & New Jersey for many years now and we would love the opportunity to help you with yours too! Use the form below to contact us and let’s discuss all of the necessary qualities above and how our team fits the bill. In the meantime, feel free to review our helpful links to prepare you for your home buying journey:

1. We created a step-by-step guide to let you know what to expect from start to finish. How To Purchase A Home

2. Are you ready to buy, but are not sure what you are looking for?
   To help narrow down your search, go to: Must-Have Questionnaire For Buyers

If you have any questions about buying a home or would like a consultation, please reach out to us using the form below!