More than half of the buyers in America want their agent to help them find their most suitable property, according to a new survey by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). There are some ways good agents respond to buyer’s needs, which are outlined below.
The study, Profile of Home Buyers, says the desire to make the agent go home-hunting is buyers’ No.1 priority in the current market.
It indicates they’re finding it challenging to locate suitable homes due to the lack of inventory.
Instead of spending weekends scrolling property websites and attending walkthroughs, buyers want their agents to suggest the best options based on their local market knowledge.
As an experienced agent in your neighborhood, I understand why buyers feel this way. When choosing an agent, you should ensure they have good market knowledge.
Three behaviors of an agent you want to avoid
- Meet or talk to you only once.
- Put you on an automated drip of emails and messages about properties for sale.
- Wait for you to call them when you see something you like.
Instead, I believe the ideal agent will respond to buyer’s needs with a more personal touch.
If you allow me to work with you, I will help you establish your criteria, including a list of “must-have” and nice-to-have” features, to make our search more efficient. Then, I will find a range of properties that meet your criteria.
Seven ways good agents respond to buyer’s needs
Fewer filters – A good agent will hear and understand the brief, but they will not apply all the filters because their clients can miss out on great opportunities simply because the price was $10k beyond the budget or it had two bathrooms instead of three.
Expand search – It’s always worth expanding the radius of the search beyond the specified area. Why? Because sometimes, a great home is worth an extra 10-minute commute. Experienced agents know their clients can be accommodating if they find the right property.
Flexibility – Many buyers say they want somewhere that’s “ready to move into”. However, a recent survey suggests 73% are now willing to consider a home that’s not perfect. If a quality agent finds the ideal home but requires some TLC, they will let you rule it out.
Personal touch – While you may be on an email list, a good agent will always reach out with individual recommendations.
Smart strategy – Experienced agents will pay attention to the so-called “days on market” for each prospective property. In the current climate, any house or apartment on the market for more than a month is a potential bargain.
Make the call – If you want to be in a specific area or street, a good agent will start door-knocking or circle-dialing the area to see if anyone is willing to sell for a price within their client’s budget. It’s a simple process of shaking the tree and seeing if any apples fall.
Working networks – Finally, expect your agent to have a good network of colleagues who will keep them informed of the properties they have coming onto the market. This way, you could have the first and best opportunity to buy.
