Once we got pre-approved and decided to start looking, we needed to find a Realtor. Below is our approach but feel free to take the parts that make sense for you:
Ask Around: A referral from someone you trust is always a great place to start. They know your personality and will usually not suggest someone that you wouldn’t mesh well with.
Google: You can search realtors in your area and sort by years of experience, location, etc.
Social Media: Crazy enough I found our realtor on Instagram. I searched a few hashtags for Atlanta Realtors and I found Kori’s page. I loved her approach to getting her clients the best deal while finding them their dream home. She was super cute and that #BlackGirlMagic didn’t hurt either lol
Meet them and see if it’s a good fit: I had phone calls with my top 3 and felt like I clicked best with Kori. She made me feel safe to ask questions and share my findings. I was a first-time homeowner who was excited! I had questions but also wanted her opinion on the places we found. One of the others made me feel like it wasn’t okay to have questions or offer suggestions so I crossed her off IMMEDIATELY! I also talked to another guy who kept trying to increase my budget. We had not even met in person…why are pushing me beyond my budget for homes we have not even seen yet? If you read my 10 Things We Wish We Knew About Buying Home post, you will know I knew what we could afford/were willing to spend.
We set up an in-person meeting with Kori that included us viewing properties that both she and I suggested. It was a great way for us to see her style and for her to see our reactions to the homes. We were able to gauge her knowledge, professionalism, and energy and we both knew it was a great fit right away.
Make sure there is a contract: In order for someone to officially be your realtor there needs to be a contract in place. Once you have that, you are ready to move forward. They vary in length so keep that in mind if you are doing new construction which can take up to 6 months or so.
Tips:
- Go with your gut! When in doubt, don’t!
- You can request references and should check them out
- If you are buying, their services should not cost you anything
- Make sure they are familiar with the area you are interested in
- Make sure you like and trust them. This is a huge purchase, you should never feel uncomfortable interacting with them
XOXO, Laya
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