According to Zillow, Long Beach’s real estate market is considered warm for both sellers and buyers. Housing in Long Beach has gone up in value just over 3% in the past year, and they're expected to rise another 2.9% this year.
Whether you're looking to buy or sell, your first priority should be to partner with a top-selling real estate agent in Long Beach who knows the market like the back of their hand. Use these four steps to find the perfect agent for your real estate needs.
Seek out the Area’s Top Real Estate Agents
If you're looking to sell your current home or buy a new home, you'll want to start by finding an agent who has an excellent track record in the Long Beach area. Top agents can be found using a website that matches a list of successful agents with your specific needs.
Effective Agents is a website that has an algorithm that will analyze your information and provide you with a custom list of the city’s best realtors to fit your needs. You can even allow those agents to contact you by the method you prefer once the list has been compiled. This can save you a great deal of time and energy if you're at the very beginning of your search for an agent to partner with to buy or sell a home.
Evaluate Current and Recent Listings
Once you've narrowed your list down to a few select agents you're considering working with, do some brief research into their current listings and/or past homes they have recently worked with clients to purchase.
The key is to find an agent who is experienced working with buyers or sellers who have needs similar to yours. For example, if you're looking to buy a condo close to the downtown area, you'd ideally want an agent who has worked with many clients seeking condos or townhomes in that area.
Find an Agent with Expert Staging Advice
A survey by the National Association of Realtors showed that a staggering 29% of agents found that clients who took the time to properly stage their home saw up to a 5% increase on price offerings. If you're looking to sell your home in Long Beach, a truly great real estate agent will provide you with specific advice on what to do to get the maximum offer for your house.
Staging your home isn’t just about bringing in neutral furniture and décor to make your house appealing to buyers. It also requires you to purge your home of unnecessary clutter and any décor that's over-the-top. Remember, the goal of staging your home is to help prospective buyers to begin seeing your house as their new home.
Verify Proper Licensing
Last but certainly not least, verify your agent has the proper credentials with the state of California. This can easily be verified online. Once you verify that your agent has an up-to-date license, you'll be all set to buy your dream home or to sell your house at a great price!
Find more on housing in Long Beach and other real estate news by registering on 562area, your free guide to the Long Beach area.
