12 tips to find a good real estate company

If you are buying or selling a house and you'd like to be among professionals on the property field, then make sure to choose the right real estate company. In this feature we give you 12 useful and essential tips for you to end up working with an outstanding real estate agency.

Real estating is a very competitive sector specially here in Costa Blanca. If you go to Torrevieja you'll find hundreds of them, not so many here in Guardamar but a bunch of them too. The truth is there is a lot of of supply for the demand. So how do you know which company to sell or buy my home with? Follow me on this steps to find out:

On the search keep it simple, their previous customers have the answer.

1. Word of mouth is important. Many people have bought or sold their house at some point so ask them who they worked with and if they recommend them..
2. Feedback online: once you've got a few names lined up, google them and see what people have to say in google reviews and facebook. Don't fall for “Oh companies buy their reviews" because when an unsatisfied customer is not happy he or she will be determine to state how bad their experience was. And also most of the good reviews will be real customers.
3. Local reputation: don't be shy and ask around the shops, bars or restaurants nearby about the company itself and the person in charged of it. Local people can be a good source of information.

Questions for the real estate company, their answer will get you closer to how well they have it all together:

1. How long have you been on the business for? Experience is the key.
2. Which areas do you sell properties on? Less is more unless they are a well organised big company, otherwise look for real estates that specialize on an specific town.
3. Do I have to pay any charges or commission? Here in Spain a good serious real estate company never charges the buyer. The commission paid is negotiated with the owner of the property.

See them in action and decide. Now is time to see how they really work:

1. Complete housing information: when inquiring if the response more than not is “have to check", is a bad sign. A good real estate should have a complete detailed information of the properties they have acquired meaning they care about the owner and they are ready to sell their property properly.
2. Your priorities first: is important that the conversation you have with the real estate agent is full of questions directed to you. This means they are keen to really find out what you want, willing to listen and prioritise your needs.
3. Time spent with you: since you walked in until you went through the guided visits of the houses, did they listen and let you see it all? Or did they rush it?
4. Transparency: ask tricky questions and then ask again a few days later and see if the answers match.
5. The real estate agent as a seller: does he/she speak fast and loud? If you feel is shark be careful they tend to be the dangerously non transparent ones.
6. Follow your intuition: this is a real good one. When you have analised all of the previous tips, your intuition will let you know if you want to work with those people or not.

If you are looking to buy or sell your apartment, bungalow, villa or country house in Guardamar del Segura, then put Naranja Spain through the test with the 12 tools we just gave you find out how good a real estate agency really is.

Signed: Naranja Spain - pleased to meet you.