Find a Great Chicago Realtor: 7 Steps for Success in 2024
Finding the right real estate agent in Chicago can be tricky, but these seven steps will have you ready for the 2024 home-buying season in no time!
Your realtor should know Chicago like the back of their hand, helping you avoid common mistakes plaguing homeowning hopefuls.
#1 Ask Your Friends and Family in Chicago
Talk to friends or family members who bought or sold properties in Chicago recently, and see what they had to say about their last realtors. Were they happy with the end result? What about the quality of service or professionalism?
You can learn a lot about a real estate agent by what their customers have to say, on top of getting referral deals to sweeten your buying or selling experience.
#2 Visit Chicago Open Houses
Any realtor can list a property on a few websites, but the best real estate agents know how to market your listing in person too. Visit a couple open houses to see which realtors are going the extra mile for their customers: making the house presentable, knowing details about the neighborhood, greeting and talking with every guest, and so on.
Those are the realtors you want in your corner when it comes to any Chicago property.
#3 Know Your Chicago Property Type
Some realtors in Chicago and other cities will focus on specific types of properties, so make sure you know what you’re looking to buy or sell before finding an agent.
Whether you’re looking into residential or commercial properties, single or multi-family, or even just a certain Chicago locale; the more you know beforehand the better your search for a perfect realtor will go.
#4 Consider a Chicago Realtor Agency
Sometimes the only thing better than a kickass realtor is, well, a whole bunch of them! Realtor agencies have been on the rise in Chicago and other big cities, with many finding the all-in-one approach better than working with a lone real estate agent.
As with independent realtors, make sure to check an agency’s reviews, awards, and public reputation before signing on the dotted line.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or get a second opinion, so that you can find the perfect real estate agent for your home-buying dreams.
#5 Interview Your Favorite Chicago Realtors
Once you’ve found your favorite realtors in Chicago, set up interviews to find out which agent or team of agents will work best for you.
Here are some great questions to ask your realtor or real estate team:
“How long have you worked in Chicago real estate?”
“How many clients do you work with at a time?”
“Do you have any vacations or major events coming up that will make you unavailable soon?”“Do you live in or near Chicago?”
#6 Dodge the Realtor Red Flags
A bad realtor can ruin your buying or selling experience, so keep an eye out for the common warning signs of shoddy service. If they aren’t answering the phone or returning calls, don’t know about Chicago or its neighborhoods, or offer fewer services than other agents, you might want to look into another realtor to meet your needs.
#7 Hire your Realtor!
Now that you’ve picked out the best real estate agents, interviewed them, and avoided any red flags, you can begin the next step of your home-buying process in Chicago.
Make sure to refer your agent or team to friends and family so they can easily find a top-notch Chicago realtor and enjoy getting one step closer to making your real estate dreams into a reality!
Sources
Should I Hire a Real Estate Team? Here’s Your Litmus Test (homelight.com)
