In selecting a real estate agent, I think there are a number of things to consider. One, certainly, is an understanding of the services offered by your agent. In an incredibly competitive market where inventory remains very low, the ability to get relevant properties in front of buyers in an efficient and quick manner is incredibly important.
I started out as a sole practitioner, as a realtor, and I certainly enjoyed a great business. But as I looked at the changing innovation with technology, and the changing beat of the business overall, I really focused on how I could best leverage my expertise and my market knowledge to further enhance my service to clients, I built out a solid team with a strong administrative group as well as a strong group of team members who share a similar ethos in terms of client service, but are also available at the drop of a hat, to ensure our buyers get into properties right away. So, understanding and getting a clear definition of the service offering of the buyer agent is a key part of that discussion.
Additionally, understanding the type of product, or type of home you're ultimately looking to purchase is really important. Purchasing a condominium in central Toronto versus purchasing a home in the suburbs of the city are vastly different. And the knowledge base is also very different. Looking at urban versus more rural properties, there are certainly a lot of considerations there. And when you get into specialty properties like cottages, rural retreats, or farms, it's important to engage with a realtor that has expertise and experience in that specific area and understands the local market in which you’re looking to ultimately purchase.
Real estate is a relationship business, and it's not just the relationship between realtor and client, it's also the relationship between realtors and other realtors. A lot of success in finding very specific properties for very discerning clients has been my ability to pick up the phone and contact colleagues whether they be in my brokerage or another brokerage and find what my clients are looking for.
Again, it all comes down to the overall service offering – understanding the service that is to be provided, and the resources available through that particular buyer/agent relationship. How ultimately you want to be served, and how the realtor you’re engaging with intends to serve you, and then obviously understanding the specifics of the type of property in the market. As well as knowing what their relationship looks like in the areas you're looking to ultimately move is really key.
For more information, please contact Kevin Crigger at 416-837-3296 or [email protected]
Kevin Crigger is one of the exclusive agents representing the Toronto real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of his listings here.
