Hiring a Kansas City Real Estate Agent
When hiring a Kansas City Real Estate Agent it is important to
understand that an agent can make or break your deal. So finding a good
agent is essential to enjoying a painless real estate transaction.
Studies have found that the best agents don't necessarily work at the
largest brokerage, close the most transactions or make the most money.
The best Kansas City Real Estate Agents are the ones who will listen to
you, conduct themselves in an ethical manner and knows your market as
well as how to reach your target market. Click here to get direct access to the areas top Realtors!

1. REALTORS® and Real Estate Agents
All
Kansas City Realtors® are licensed to sell real estate as an agent or a broker but
not all real estate agents are Realtors®. Only Realtors® can display
the Realtor® logo. Realtors® belong to the National Association of
Realtors and pledge to follow the
Code of Ethics,
a comprehensive list containing 17 articles and underlying standards of
practice, which establish levels of conduct that are higher than
ordinary business practices or those required by law. Less than half of
all licensees are Realtors®.
2. Referrals
Most Kansas City real estate agents
stay in business because satisfied clients refer them to friends,
family, neighbors and coworkers. Ask the people around you who they
have used and ask them to describe their experiences with this real
estate agent. Successful agents make customer satisfaction their number
one priority and put their customers' needs before their own. Try to
find an agent who goes above and beyond her responsibilities.
3. Attend Open Houses
By
going to open houses, you can meet real estate agents in a
non-threatening working environment and interact with them. Collect
business cards and make notes on them. If you're thinking about selling
your home, pay attention to how the agent is showing the home. Is she
polite and informative; appear knowledgeable? Does she hand out
professional-looking promotional material about the home? Is she trying
to sell features of the home? Or is she sitting in a corner reading a
book, ignoring you?
4. Track Neighborhood Signs
Pay
attention to the listing signs in your neighborhood. Make note of the
day they go up and when the sold sign appears. The agent who sells
listings the fastest might be better for you than the agent with the
largest number of "for sale" signs. Results speak volumes.
5. Using Internet & Print Advertising
Real
estate agents run real estate ads for two purposes. The first is to
sell specific real estate. The second is to promote the real estate
agent. Since over 90% of buyers and sellers utilize the Internet as a first step in locating homes for sale in the Kansas City Area it would be in your best interest to look through MLS sites for the consumer such as Zillow.com. You can also look in your local Sunday newspaper for ads in your targeted
neighborhood. Then look up the Web sites of the agents who are
advertising. These agents could be specialists in your neighborhood.
Call and ask them about their experience.
6. Recommendations from Professionals
Ask
other real estate agents for referrals. Agents are happy to refer
buyers and sellers to associates, especially if the service you need is
not a specialty of the agent who is referring you. Some agents
specialize in residential resales while others work exclusively with
new home builders. Other agents sell only commercial or investment
property. Mortgage brokers are also a resource for agent referrals as
many brokers have first-hand knowledge of exceptional agents. Pros tend
to refer pros.