Agents and realtors are a dime a dozen these days, but how do you select someone who will advocate for your wants and needs? How can you tell if someone really knows their stuff?

I want to share a few tips on how you can go about narrowing your search. 

Please do your research in selecting someone knowledgeable about the Wilmington area and all its many quirks. In all honesty, I have heard of too many horror stories or even missed opportunities that cost buyers and sellers in the long run. Too much is at stake to simply partner with someone because you have a mutual friend. 

Here are my tips on how to select the right realtor for your buying, selling, or investment experience:

Hurricanes and Floods

Yep, I said it — The “H” word. It’s bad luck to talk about them around here, but when it comes to home-buying it cannot be avoided. Your agent should be able to off the top of their head know where the different hurricanes in the last 10 years had an impact. What neighborhoods and communities saw the most wind, tree, or water damage? What are the 100 and 500-year flood planes? When do you need flood insurance or wind insurance? What homes or areas have the priciest flood insurance? If looking in this area, your agent or realtor should have these answers. 

Zoning laws and Ordinances

Are you looking at buying an investment property or making changes to an existing property? I would recommend partnering in your real estate journey with someone who knows local zoning laws. I recently met a couple who purchased a home to turn into a short-term rental, only to learn zoning laws prohibited them. As the Wilmington region grows, zoning laws and boundaries constantly shift. Find someone who stays on top of the news. 

Fact vs Fantasy

It can be tricky as a buyer’s or seller’s agent to lay down hard truths for a client, while still helping them achieve their goals. But, I find honesty is the only policy to abide by. If I think a client is hoping for a champagne home on a beer budget, I will simply say so. I don’t play into fantasies just to make a client happy. Sometimes spelling out a hard truth is just that — hard. But I think it is more respectful to a client, to be honest. Find someone who will help you find the best home for you, not just indulge in HGTV dreams.

Understanding Tech

When meeting with a prospective realtor or agent, ask about how they get information on listings. Certain realtors may have a leg-up on the competition by utilizing the latest and greatest technology to spot listings on the MLS. 

Clever Offers and Spotting Fakes

For buyers, the best realtors have some tricks up their sleeves when it comes to putting in the best offer. With years of experience, I can pad an offer with extra incentives that do not just include money. I always say the highest offer does not necessarily equate to the best offer. We can put more money down during closing, extend the closing period, and tinker with dates and timelines, rather than offer more money. I share more about this in my free Buyer’s Guide Ebook. As for sellers, great agents can spot fake offers a mile away. Sometimes offers that come in really are too good to be true. Find a realtor who is wise to their tricks. 

Want to learn more about buying or selling? I wrote two free Ebooks you can easily download. I spell out the process of both and share my wisdom of years in the business. Check out my Seller’s Guide & Buyer’s Guide.