As with any other city in the United States, Orlando too has its plus and minus points and hence finding the right real estate agent is crucial, if you do not want to land up with a dud. Here are some facts to keep in mind, when searching for the real estate elusive right agent.
You could survey various newspapers, property magazine and even surf the Internet in your search for the right real estate agent. One of the important qualities, which you should look for in an agent, is that he/she should be a local agent, with complete knowledge of the various neighborhoods in Orlando, especially the good and the bad ones. He should be honest and should have prior experience in such type of dealings. He should be willing to assist you full time and should not be available only on the phone. Check out his prior dealings with some of his previous customers, to get an idea about the speed and quality of his service.
He should also have an idea of the surrounding neighborhoods, so that he can point out the various schools, hospitals, etc. around your proposed purchase. If you are planning to buy a business, then he should have an idea of the local zoning laws and the other legal requirements, needed to start your business. He should participate in all the meetings and should also arrange meetings with the seller, so that he can mention any points, you had forgotten to mention in that meeting. He should take care of all the paperwork required to complete the deal. Depending on the night life, you wish to pursue, the agent should guide you to an area, which can be easily accessed from your home. So, if you want to visit pubs or discos regularly, then he can suggest a residential area nearby or if you like visiting the lap of nature, then he could suggest area near Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge or the Ocala National Forest.
The agent should also have good relations with the builder or seller of the property and should try to guide you towards a fair deal, which should be satisfying to all the three of you. He should not be greedy after his commission alone, but should be interested in establishing a long-term relation with his clients. He should be technologically savvy and should be able to use his laptop, to generate quick and accurate results for any query, which you might put up to him. He should be able to calculate mortgage payments, down payments, etc. immediately and without committing any errors.
He should have maps of the area ready with him, so that you can check out the area, even before physically visiting it. He should be able to tell you about the price appreciation in the particular area of your interest in the previous years. He should also have contacts with technical people, who can inspect the property of your interest and provide you with a written report.
So in short, you will need an honest, efficient, knowledgeable and accessible broker, who can spot a good deal and wrap it up for you, as quickly as possible. If you find him, then even in future deals, stick with him.
