Searching for a real estate agent is a bit like dating: As you peruse real estate websites and query friends and family members for references, your goal as the savvy homebuyer is to find an agent with the right personality and experience to assist you in your search for the perfect Washington, D.C., home.
You want an agent who knows the nation’s capital like the back of his or her hand — where the nearest public transportation stops are, what neighborhoods fall within your price range and what snags might get in the way of securing a home sale. Most importantly, you want to find someone you get along with and trust.
Some of the top Washington, D.C., real estate agents, as identified by real estate data company OpenHouse Realty, a U.S. News partner, discuss the information you should seek out — and the questions you should ask — as you screen potential agents to help you buy a home in Washington, D.C.
Do you know the neighborhood? First, decide which neighborhoods in the Washington, D.C., area you’re most interested in. Then, find out which brokers have offices in those neighborhoods. “Once you’ve narrowed things down to a few agents, contact them and get a feel for what they know about that neighborhood,” including any future projects that might be coming to the area, says Carl Bender, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.
[Read: A First-Time Buyer’s Guide to Washington, D.C.]
Tell the prospective agent what you’re looking for in a home and then ask for some details about what to expect in your desired neighborhoods — including information on pricing. A good real estate agent will give you honest answers, says Avery Boyce, an agent with Compass Real Estate.
How many clients have you helped? When screening potential agents, get some facts and figures about their success rate, Boyce advises. Ask them how familiar they are with the Washington, D.C., market, and how many buyers they’ve helped in the last six months. “The number of transactions an agent has done recently is the most telling figure,” she says.
You should also check with potential agents to see if they have a strong network of contractors, lenders and title resources, Bender says. “It can absolutely be the difference between having a deal go through or not.”
What’s your house-hunting strategy? Especially in a highly competitive market like Washington, D.C., you should look for an agent who’s proactive, available, aggressive and resourceful.
Boyce says her own success comes from her ability to get creative during the house search. “You have to come up with solutions in a way that’s different than what the buyer was expecting,” she says. If, for instance, clients are looking for a home in Dupont Circle, but can’t find what they want in their price range, Boyce might suggest less pricey neighborhoods located nearby, such as Logan Circle, Adams Morgan or Kalorama, which are also conveniently located to Metro stops and have similar architectural styles.
[Read: D.C., Maryland or Virginia — Where Should You Live?]
Anita Galang-Mason, a Realtor with Weichert Realtors, says she always encourages clients to look at the resale value of the property. Especially in an area like Washington, D.C., that has a high rate of resident turnover, buyers “should also know the ‘rentability’ of the place,” she advises.
Are you familiar with D.C. laws? If you’re looking exclusively in the District of Columbia, make sure the agent you choose is in the know about the District’s tax abatement programs.
Also, make sure your agent is well-versed in important local laws like the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act. Under this law, tenants occupying the property have the right to pre-empt its sale and put in an offer of their own.
“It’s absolutely imperative that an agent has a pretty strong understanding of TOPA laws, otherwise you might end up losing a property,” says Bender, who comes across this snag all the time with his clients.
Will we get along? Every buyer has slightly different needs, so it’s important that you feel comfortable with the agent you choose, Boyce says. After all, this is someone you’re going to spend time with over a period of weeks and possibly months.
Once you’ve narrowed down some options for agents, Bender advises meeting them face to face. “See if you have a rapport, if the agent understands you beyond criteria you’re giving them,” Bender says. Can you talk to him or her without feeling the need to edit yourself? If so, that agent is a good fit, he adds.
Keep in mind that you might not work with the same agent throughout the entire home-buying process. One agent might accompany you to showings and another may go to closing with you. It’s important to find out who you’ll be working with in advance, so you know what’s going to happen, Boyce says.
[Read: 10 Up-and-Coming Washington, D.C., Neighborhoods to Buy a Home.]
Do you have my best interests at heart? In this business, a good agent will always put clients first before money. As you look at properties with a prospective agent, “you can always tell if they’re trying to make a quick sale, or if they’re trying to find the right house for you and looking out for your interests,” Galang-Mason says.
Buyers looking for a real estate agent should choose someone with integrity. “The way I look at it, when I show clients properties I see it as me buying property for them,” Galang-Mason adds.
Looking for a real estate agent in Washington, D.C.? Our Find an Agent tool can match you with the person who’s most qualified for the job.
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6 Things Washington, D.C., Homebuyers Should Ask When Hiring a Real Estate Agent originally appeared on usnews.com
