If you are looking to buy or sell a home, your Malibu real estate agent will become one of the most valuable members of your team. An experienced agent can help you find a hope that meets your needs and your price range. An agent can also help you avoid buying a house that needs costly repairs, which can help you save money in the long run. Because there are so many agents in the area, it might be difficult to choose a Malibu real estate agent. Use these tips to screen agents and select the best one for your needs.

Experience

In the real estate industry, experience counts. Experienced real estate agents can help you find Malibu land for sale, Malibu banked owned properties, condominiums or luxury homes that are all within your price range. An experienced agent knows how to avoid some of the most common pitfalls of buying a property, which can save you tens of thousands of dollars. Someone with experience is also more likely to have valuable industry contacts that can make the process of buying your home less stressful.

Recommendations

If you do not know any real estate agents, ask a friend or colleague to recommend someone they have worked with in the past. A personal recommendation carries a lot of weight, as the people close to you want you to have a positive experience. Personal contacts are more likely to reveal any problems they had working with their agents, so recommendations can give you more information than advertisements or online reviews from people you have never met. If none of your friends or family members have experience working with a Malibu Realtor, ask your attorney or insurance agent for a recommendation. People in the legal and insurance fields often have real estate contacts, making this a viable option for gathering information.

Meetings

You should meet with each agent on your list to learn more about their experience and the results they have gotten for their clients. Pay close attention to what happens before, during and after the meeting. Note whether the agent is on time or if he keeps you waiting for a few minutes. Ask yourself if the agent seems knowledgeable about your needs or if she does not seem to know the area very well. Once you have met with each agent, you will have additional information that can help you make a decision.

Reviewing Information

Once you have gathered all of the necessary information, compare each agent in terms of experience, professionalism, knowledge of your target area and any other criteria you believe are important. You may even want to ask someone knowledgeable about the industry to help you review all of the information available. Use this information to make a final decision about which agent to hire.

Choosing a real estate agent is one of the most important decisions you can make when buying a home. Your agent can help you avoid bad deals that could have disastrous results, so it is important to consider all of the information carefully.

Russell Grether of Compass Real Estate is a real estate agent based out of Malibu, CA. He specializes in Malibu real estate, Malibu homes for sale, Malibu properties, Malibu Land for sale, Malibu rentals and surrounding area real estate from Montecito to the Pacific Palisades.