With Helen Harder being a Grande Prairie Realtor for over 12 years she's seen a lot of agents come and go, during that time she has learnt that just like in every other profession, no two Realtors® are the same. As a buyer (whether it's in Grande Prairie or elsewhere) there is no reason not to use a Realtor® as they are free for you as the buyer to use and they provide expertise on the home buying process. Now that we know everyone should be using a Realtor® when it comes time to buy or sell how do you choose the best Realtor® for you?
We recommend that you do some research.
First we suggest looking at their Google reviews (you can find Harder Real Estate Team's here). Read about what kind of experience others have had working with them. You want the reviews to say they communicated well, went above and beyond for their clients, and are knowledgeable.
Next, check out their website. See what kind of resources they offer people. Along with that read their bio and "about me" section to get a feel for the kind of person they are and if you think you'll get along well.
After you've done your research and narrowed it down to about three Agents we suggest you interview them.
Ask them the following questions:
How many real estate deals have you done?
Most people don't want to pay to have someone learn. With an experienced agent comes a certain level of expertise that an agent with no deals might not possess yet.
What is your area of expertise? Are you licensed in all areas of real estate?
The areas of real estate licensing are residential, rural, commercial, and property management. When interviewing Agents you want to make sure that they are licensed to show you the properties you want to see.
How long have you lived in the area?
When buying a home, especially if you're relocating, you want a local expert. By choosing an Agent that has been in the area they can give you firsthand insight on the different neighbourhoods and developments that you otherwise might not have known.
What makes you different from other agents?
You want to work with someone who knows what they can offer you as the buyer. Whether it's building industry experience, or the number of deals they've done, let them tell you why to use you, but only AFTER you've done all of the other research.
If you're wondering why you should use Grande Prairie and area Realtor® Helen Harder or Shane Harder read Helen's answers here and Shane's here.