Chicago real estate is challenging. There are some outstanding opportunities here but also a lot of downfalls to avoid. When you learn how to find a good real estate agent in Chicago, you’ll have the support and guidance you need to ensure your best outcome.

Finding the Best Real Estate Agent In Chicago

Many real estate brokerages spend thousands of dollars each month ensuring their marketing plans put their agents front and center. That’s online and locally. Some even put up large signs along the freeways in Chicago to get the attention of would-be buyers and sellers.

The agents with big promotional dollars like this are not always the best in the area. They may be the wrong choice for you personally.

Instead of putting your time and money into the wrong agent for such an important purchase, let’s find out how to find a good real estate agent in Chicago.

Here’s a tip to keep in mind…

It’s still taking 3 to 6 months to sell your home. If you need to sell your home fast in Chicago, reach out to us instead. We may be able to offer you a fast cash offer in 24 hours without concern about the condition.

Reviews Can Help You Find Good Real Estate Agent in Chicago

It’s possible to find some reviews of good real estate agent online, but sometimes these are not accurate, or they may be nothing more than paid promotions. It’s best to get authentic reviews from actual home buyers or sellers who used the agent. All reputable/ good real estate agent will provide you with clients you can speak to. You just need to ask them for a reference.

Reviews like this help you to see how well an agent performs in the marketplace. It gives you insight into what they do and how they respond to their clients.

It’s also a good idea to do a Google search of the real estate agent’s name. Place the word “review” behind their name. That way, you’ll get both good and bad reviews from multiple sources online. It’s a good idea to read the bad reviews to learn just how impactful the agent’s skills were in less than ideal conditions. If there’s a bad review, you still want to know if the agent helped to resolve the problem.

Know What Questions to Ask Real Estate Agents in Chicago

You can ask both former clients as well as the agent some key questions to get an idea about who they are and what skills they have. You want to know how well they can represent you. Some questions to ask include:

• What part of the process have your clients been pleased with or unhappy with? Why?
• How close does the asking price and the sales price wind up?
• What types of properties have you worked with in my area?
• What length of time does it typically take to sell your home in Chicago?
• What complications do you see in the local market?

Choose an agent with similar experiences to what your needs are. That’s going to make a big difference.

Learn About the Agent’s Credentials

Another important step is to check the agent’s credentials to find out if they have proper licensing in place. You can do that on the state’s real estate regulatory authority website. Look into any regulatory actions taken or complaints made against the agent you’re considering.

Learn about the Chicago agent’s history in buying and selling homes. Find out how long they’ve been with a specific agency and their history with any other brokerages in the area.

What’s most important is finding an agent you feel you can trust. That means someone that easily and regularly communicates with you throughout the process. Your home is one of the largest investments you’ll make. You want to get answers to all of your questions from that agent, including:

• How many people have inquired about the home?
• What properties in the area are for sale that are like my home?
• How does the asking price for your home fit with the neighborhood?

Learn How the Agent Plans to Sell Your Home

When you speak to a good real estate agent in Chicago, ask them directly how they plan to sell your home. You also want to know what they will do to help your home sell at the best price possible that’s different from what other agents may do.

You should expect an agent to speak to you about their marketing plan. They will have specific strategies for helping based on what your needs are.

You Don’t Want To Sell Your Home For Too Low

One of the steps some agents may take to sell your home face is to price it as low as possible. You don’t want a low price – that may sell it quickly, but that doesn’t make it profitable for you.

Consider what it all means.

Let’s say your agent is earning just 3% in commission from the sale. If that home sells for $200,000, that’s $6,000 in fees paid to the agent. Keep in mind that both the buyer and seller agents may have commissions like this. The process of paying for an agent isn’t cheap.

If you decide to go with a cut-rate agent or one that charges a flat rate, that doesn’t mean you’re going to get the level of service you desire. You also want to avoid rookie agents, those who will do anything to get that first sale. That often means you’re not getting the best offer.

Instead, it’s important for you to hire the right professional to help you. A good real estate agent in Chicago can sell your home quickly for high prices because they have effective marketing strategies. Some may even offer a discounted rate to you.

Do you want to sell your home to a local real estate investor in Chicago? If so, the highest priced offer isn’t always guaranteed to be the best offer. Instead of just settling, look at the terms of the deal and be sure they can close on your schedule. Every month the home sits there, you are paying the mortgage, insurance, taxes, and so on.

Do your research to find the best opportunity for your home. It’s worth the time investment you make.