Finding the Right Real Estate Agent for Your Budget Goals

Author: Emily Jackson

If you’re looking to buy or sell a home in St. Catharines, or maybe you’re a first-time home buyer or downsizing, the best realtors in St. Catharines can help you save dollars or secure a higher selling price for your home. This page will take a look at tips and tricks when deciding how to choose the right real estate agent in St. Catharines. Now that you’re ready to start your search for a real estate agent, it’s time to start looking! When searching for a real estate agent, it’s important to check to see if they are licensed. All Real estate agents in Canada are licensed provincially.

For Sellers

If your plan is to sell your home, the main activities to do are to declutter, repair, and clean. Of course, you want your home to be in the most presentable condition so that your future real estate agent can properly assess your home and come up with a profitable selling strategy. This activity includes opening up your home by getting rid of clutter and excess furniture, dusting and cleaning, and whitewashing and landscaping. If you will also be shifting and buying a home, you should also follow the same process for a potential home buyer. This includes getting a mortgage pre-approval and figuring out what type of home you would like to look for.

For Buyers

If your plan is to buy a home, you should start getting your finances in order. The first thing to do is to get pre-approved for a mortgage. A mortgage pre-approval will not only let you know if you are approved for a mortgage or not, but also for how much. Typically, your maximum home purchase price is affected by your mortgage interest rate. This means that having lower interest rates in Canada will allow you to purchase a more expensive home. Also, make sure to have the required mortgage documentation whenever applying for a mortgage.

  1. Referrals

Referrals are one of the most popular ways to find the best realtor in St. Catharines. Recommendations from friends, family members or lawyers can point you in the direction of agents that have served them well in the past. They will also be able to let you know their own first-hand experience with that particular agent, whether it be positive or negative.

  1. Advertisements

You might have already seen numerous ads for real estate agents, from billboards to newspapers to television and radio ads. In place of searching for an agent, real estate ads bring agents right to your attention. Attractive and expensive ads may suggest that the agent has a good marketing team, but it might not necessarily mean that your home listing will get the same treatment. If you choose an agent found through ads, you should still go for references or read reviews from their previous clients.

  1. Active Listings

Just imagine, you’ve attended an open house and thought that the agent would be an excellent fit for you. Or maybe you’ve been searching at listings online and you liked the way an agent has staged the home and curated the listing. If you like what you see, you can always ask a real estate agent from an unrelated listing to be your real estate agent for your dealings.

  1. Online Platforms

Online platforms are websites that you can go to that allow you to easily search for real estate agents. But, not all online platforms are the same. They let you search for real estate agents near you based on neighbourhood expertise, reviews, years of experience, and cashback, but they also let you read previous customer reviews to see what others think about their service. Plus, you can get to know the agents better through unique profile questions and answers as well as contact them directly with any questions that you have.

In conclusion, finding the right real estate agent in St. Catherines is crucial for achieving your budget goals, whether you're buying or selling a home. Referrals from friends, family, or real estate lawyers are a reliable way to find an agent with a proven track record. Pay attention to advertisements, but don't solely rely on them; instead, ask for references or read reviews from previous clients. Additionally, attending open houses and exploring online platforms that offer agent searches based on expertise and customer reviews can help you make an informed decision when choosing the perfect real estate agent to guide you through your property journey.