Whether you’re selling a house or buying one, you will definitely need the help of an Atlanta real estate agent. However, not all real estate agents in Atlanta can do the job perfectly. In fact, very few of them can. What you need to do is find the one who will understand your needs the most. Believe it or not, it’s not always about track records. Someone who’s been a real estate agent for 20 years can still do very poorly in selling your home or helping you buy one unless s/he understands what you’re looking for.

1. Ask about his/her strategy in selling your home or looking for one

Before he can sell anything for you, he has to sell his ideas first. Good Atlanta real estate agents show how interested they are in their clients by asking questions first. Your first meeting with an agent shouldn’t sound like a job interview wherein you’re doing all the asking and s/he is supplying you with curt answers. When you’re interviewing an agent, ask him/her what he needs to know about your property first. If you’re a buyer, the agent should ask you about what qualities you’re looking for in a home. Once s/he’s done getting all the information s/he needs, you should go ahead and ask your Atlanta real estate agent to demonstrate or explain his/her strategy. It doesn’t have to be a specific report of the agent’s techniques, but he should at least be able to fill you in on what type of advertising or search strategy he’ll be using.

1. Ask about his/her cut in the deal

You should expect your Atlanta real estate agent to ask for 3.5% of your total earnings. This is their usual fee. If an agent asks too little from you, you should be wary. S/he could be very new in the business and treating you as his/her guinea pig. In exchange, s/he charges less. There’s nothing wrong with this, except for the fact that you’ll probably not sell your home anytime soon. Atlanta real estate agents who know what their skills are worth will charge you just enough. Needless to say, you should also dodge agents who charge too much.

1. Ask about the agent’s educational background   

Have you ever heard of the saying that “sweet just doesn’t cut it”? The same thing goes for Atlanta real estate agents. While it’s very important for these agents to have a pleasing personality, real estate is more than just a popularity contest. Good Atlanta real estate agents would invest in their skills. They’re least likely to laze around for 20 years (if they’ve been in the business for that long) without being schooled with new strategies. Always ask for their educational background. Look at how committed they are in their careers as a real estate agent. If you’re serious about selling or finding a home, you would want a certified professional agent, and not one who just does it on the side.