Whether a buyer or a seller, partnering with a professional is an important step to finding Hilo homes for sale or listing your property successfully on the market. However, it’s important to weigh all of your options in the area before selecting the realtor best suited to your needs. When starting your search, look out for these six attributes that all great Hilo realtors should have. But first, here’s what you need to know about the local real estate market before buying or selling.
Hilo is one of the most notable areas on the Big Island’s east side, well-loved by buyers and residents alike for the bay bordering the town, as well as the lush nature throughout the area. Now is a good time for buyers searching in the area since current sales prices are on a downward trend for single-family homes on the Big Island. Sellers should work carefully with Hilo realtors to navigate the cooling market. With this in mind, keep an eye out for these six attributes when partnering with a professional.
Listens to clients
Great Hilo realtors, like those at Wai Pacific, should listen to clients, ensuring they feel heard and that their needs have been met. Not only will they provide you with the space to talk about what you want from a home sale, they’ll know what questions to ask to find the information needed to do their job well. They’ll be mindful of factors like a client’s time frame, as well as their motivations for buying or selling and how that affects the process. Rather than pushing a purchase or sale, a great realtor puts the client’s interests first, ensuring they secure a good deal. As such, they establish a sense of trust and security between them and their clients.
Maintains clear communication
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A great realtor will maintain clear communication with buyers and sellers. They’ll have good communication skills, and before beginning, they’ll explain to their clients what to expect out of the process. They should also be able to answer questions buyers or sellers have or know where to find answers to questions that pop up.
Communication is crucial to a successful purchase or sale, which is why a realtor should contact clients regularly to keep them up-to-date with the process. They’ll provide clear hours of operations when they’re available to take calls and provide updates unprompted by clients. An agent will also choose the mode of communication their clients are most comfortable with, whether that be texts, emails, phone calls, or in-person communication.
Understands the local market
To do their job successfully, a realtor needs to have a thorough understanding of the local real estate market. They’ll know if market conditions favor buyers or sellers, search for listings competing with sellers or that meet the buyer’s requirements, as well as what properties in the area are generally priced at. With this information, a realtor will guide their client on how to time and price their home transaction.
As stated before, the real estate market in Hilo is cooling. An agent will know that even so, the luxury market in Hawaii is still strong, seeing consistent growth in the first half of this year. They’ll also know that demand for luxury properties, especially for areas like Hawaii Island, is high, surpassing rates from the same time last year by 12.28%. With this information, they’ll help buyers and sellers navigate the best offers.
As stated before, the real estate market in Hilo is cooling. An agent will know that even so, the luxury market in Hawaii is still strong, seeing consistent growth in the first half of this year. They’ll also know that demand for luxury properties, especially for areas like Hawaii Island, is high, surpassing rates from the same time last year by 12.28%. With this information, they’ll help buyers and sellers navigate the best offers.
Knowledgeable about the area
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It’s important for realtors to be knowledgeable about the area itself they’re working in. Buyers searching for Hilo real estate will have questions about different neighborhoods and the general environment, which realtors should have quick answers to. For sellers, a realtor’s knowledge about Hilo is useful in preparing properties to appeal to buyers searching in the area.
A realtor will know the perks of different areas in Hilo, such as Downtown Hilo, Keaau, Pepeekeo, and Mountain View. They’ll also be knowledgeable about the perks of Hilo itself, like its stunning nature views at outdoor spots like Wailuku River State Park, the shops, galleries, and restaurants along downtown, as well as local events to attend to get to know the community, like the Hilo Farmers’ Market.
Is proactive
Part of what makes the realtors at Gaddis Zhang Hawaii exceptional is their proactive mindset when working with clients. For clients searching for homes, they’ll be continuously looking for properties that align with your needs by tapping into their network of buyers’ agents. They’ll also search online and send listings that may appeal to you. For sellers, they’ll help you market your home and find buyers who may be interested in a home showing. They’ll tackle problems that arise without prompting and come up with solutions quickly.
Has a developed skill set
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A great realtor should have a developed skill set that gets good results. They’ll have strategies to market a home effectively for sellers, using online means of advertisement as well as offline and in-person tactics to generate interest. As more and more of the world shifts to digital spaces, they’ll also be proficient with technology, knowing how to navigate several different platforms to meet their clients’ needs.
Most importantly, a great realtor knows how to negotiate effectively with other agents. They’ll keep your best interests in mind and will be assertive in advocating on your behalf. To help secure a deal, a realtor will think of solutions that benefit everybody while still aligning with your goals. Being able to negotiate can make or break a good deal.
Ready to work with a Hilo realtor?
When choosing a realtor to help you with selling or buying homes in Hilo, keep these six attributes in mind. If you’re ready to start your search or sale, contact local agent Nate Gaddis to guide you through the process.
*Header photo courtesy of Shutterstock