Finding a trustworthy realtor who will work with your best interest in mind is not always easy. This is because Ottawa realtors work on commission and can be driven by making the most money as opposed to helping their clients meet their needs. Fear not, there are plenty of honest realtors ready to help. Use these four tips to find the realtor right for you:

Honesty and Knowledge

Why are honesty and knowledge paired together? Because an honest realtor who has the knowledge you need will help you find the right price. Many realtors will agree to anything just to get your business. You don’t want someone who smiles and does whatever you want. This can mean paying too much for a home or listing your home too high or too low. An honest and knowledgeable realtor will understand the housing market and know what prices are fair in the current market. Dishonest Ottawa realtors, knowledgeable or not, will simply look at pricing from a “how much winds up in my pocket?” stand point. They will not be honest with the price you should pay, or the price you should list. Knowledge of fair pricing in hand with honest advice is what good realtors are all about.

Visit Websites

Visit Ottawa realtor’s websites and see what they have to say. Do they have a fun and informational blog that shows they are up on the latest in housing news? Do they have an engaging style that makes you want to get to know them better? Do they have testimonials from clients singing their praises? Is it all about the company they represent or do they have their own set up with a focus on what they personally have to offer? Once you visit some websites you will be able to come up with a short list of realtors you would like to get to know better.

Meet a Few

Choosing a realtor is like hiring someone for an important job. You want to research candidates and select a few who seem experienced and trustworthy to interview. Whether you are buying or selling, have them discuss what makes them the right person for the job. When selling your home you want someone who can list off recent sales and local housing prices as well as indicate what they will do to sell your home. When they are helping you find your home they should know answers about the schools, prices, amenities and other details about the neighbourhoods you are considering. You’ll also want someone with years of experience. Because realtors work on commission they won’t stay in the game for decades if they aren’t good at what they do. It just won’t put enough food on the table so to speak.

Designation and Affiliations

Not all Ottawa realtors are created equal. There are many designations that will show the level of training and experience each realtor has obtained. You can ask each realtor what their designation is to get a feel for their training. A realtor associated with a large real estate company will have added support and the tools they need to succeed. They will have access to a large internal system to search and attract other realtors to properties they have just listed. This can shorten your search time as well as attract buyers sooner.

Ottawa realtors are trained professionals who will play an important role to help you buy or sell your property. Being prepared to choose well now will help you avoid regrets later.