Author: admin_mh

Buying or selling real estate is a big financial commitment, so it is important to choose the agent you work with wisely. Knowing what to look for in a real estate agent will help ensure the purchase or sale process runs as smoothly and optimally as possible and that you avoid some of the common pitfalls.

To help you find the right real estate agent for you, in this article, we will look at the four top things to consider when choosing a real estate agent. Let’s begin.

1. Reputation

Clearly, you will want to work with a reputable agent and brokerage. There are a few quick and easy ways to check the reputation of the agents you are considering.

A good place to start is by checking their reviews on platforms like HAR, Zillow and Google. Go beyond the average star ratings and read some of the comments, including negative and positive ones.

Next, check out their social media accounts like Facebook and Instagram and their website if they have one. How do they conduct themselves online? Does their website look clean and professional?

Finally, has this real estate agent won any awards or accreditations? If they have been recognized in some way by industry experts, then this is a pretty clear indicator that they are good at what they do.

2. Experience

It’s a good idea to check how long the real estate agents you’re considering have been in business. If they have over a decade of experience along with a solid reputation, this is a good sign that they’ll have the skills and professionalism you’re after.

Also, do they have experience with the specific property type you want to buy or sell? For instance, if you are planning to buy a newly built home, consider looking for agents who are either new home specialists or often work with new homes.

Look at their past and present listings to get an idea. Also, pay attention to how well they write descriptions for the real estate they promote and the quality of the photographs used. You’re looking for a detail-oriented agent who knows how to present and market properties well online.

3. Locality

Ideally, you want an agent who works in the location you want to buy or sell. This is because they will have a much better knowledge of the local area and real estate market than any agent from the outside could ever have.

It also comes down to trust. A real estate agent who has lived and worked in the local area for many years is directly tied to the community where you want to do business, meaning they are more accountable and trustworthy.

That’s why Milica Vasiljevic, a real estate agent in Houston, Texas, uses her deep understanding of the Houston area and nearly two decades of experience to help her local clients turn their property dreams into reality.

4. Are They a Good Match?

Finally, once the real estate agents you are considering have passed your initial screening process, i.e., they have everything we’ve discussed above, you’ll want to do some interviews to see if they are a good match.

It’s important to ensure the real estate agent you choose is someone with whom you are going to be able to work well. Speak to them face-to-face, either in person or over a video call, to gauge how well they communicate and whether your personalities work together or clash.

And remember, never be afraid to switch to a different real estate agent if the one you are working with isn’t meeting your expectations!

Are you looking to buy, sell, or relocate in Houston and need a real estate agent with the experience and a proven reputation to ensure your success? If so, contact Milica today to find out if she is the perfect match for your needs.

Various factors can affect the value of a property, and in this article, we will break down what they are to give you a clearer understanding of property valuations.

Whether attempting to value a property yourself, hiring a professional appraiser, or having an experienced real estate agent like Milica Vasiljevic do it for you, the factors outlined below are those taken into consideration when running a comparative market analysis (CMA).

A CMA is the industry standard for determining the value of a property. It involves comparing the subject property to at least three similar properties recently sold in the same area.

Here’s what a real estate appraiser will look at when determining the valuation of a property.

1. Location

The first thing an appraiser will consider when valuing a property is its location. You cannot get an accurate valuation by comparing properties from different areas, as some areas are simply more desirable than others.

Whether it’s crime rates, schooling, distance to the beach, employment opportunities, or access to public transport, there are countless reasons location is so important.

The size of the area used when comparing properties for a valuation can vary depending on whether it is in an urban, suburban, or rural location. But ideally, the closer to the subject property, the better.

For properties in dense urban centers, you’ll want to compare properties on the same street or even in the same building for condominiums. For properties in the suburbs, you’ll want to look at those in the same neighborhood, and for those in rural areas, you may consider a slightly larger geographic area due to the lower density of properties.

2. Size and Type

The next key factor to consider is the size and type of property. We are aiming for apples-to-apples comparisons here, so if the subject property is a two-story house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, you’ll want to compare it to properties that match this in the same area.

If you cannot find an exact match, let’s say you can only find recently sold two-story houses with four bedrooms and two bathrooms, then a method can be used to deduct value for the additional bedroom, making it suitable to use in the comparison.

However, comparing a ranch-style home to a two-story house or a cottage to a townhouse would not be appropriate or accurate, as they are distinctly different property types.

Square footage is another key aspect to consider, and the properties used in the CMA should ideally be within 200 square feet of the subject property.

3. Age and Condition

The third main consideration when valuing a property is its age and condition. A newly built home would have a different valuation than a house built in the 1950s, and so would a property that is ready to move into and one that needs repairs.

Here are some key aspects the appraiser will look at regarding condition:

• Exterior: Foundations, walls, roof, etc.
• Interior: Walls, kitchen, windows, flooring, doors, etc.
• Utilities: Electrics, plumbing, heating/cooling, insulation, etc.

Obviously, if a property has a hole in the roof, bad foundation, faulty electrics, or anything else that is potentially hazardous, this will affect its valuation to some degree and should be considered.

4. Additional Factors

Aside from the main factors listed above, there are many additional factors that appraisers can also look at when valuing a property. For instance, they might check if

it has desirable features like a two car garage, swimming pool, or nice views or if there are environmental issues like the risk of flooding, noise from traffic, or air pollution.

However, even if you use the main factors above to guide you in finding three properties that are most similar to yours that have sold within the last three months, it should give you a fairly accurate idea of the value of your property.

Still, if you would like an expert’s opinion, you can also Get a FREE Home Valuation from Milica Vasiljevic, your Real Estate Agent in Houston, Texas.