Columbia, South Carolina was previously known for one thing: it was the state’s capital. Flash forward to today, and Columbia has become a buzzing hive of culture, culinary experiences, business growth, and has established itself as a major Southern metropolis. Columbia’s real estate market is equally abuzz with people looking to buy their first home, buy a larger home, relocate, or retire. 

Zillow’s real estate data shows Columbia as a “hot” market that is currently a strong sellers’ market. If you are selling your home, any smart realtor® will tell you that real estate Columbia is extremely desirable to a fleet of buyers. If you are looking to buy your dream home in Columbia, you will need to find a real estate agent that will be proactive to give you an edge over other prospective buyers. Here are some simple and effective ways to choose an agent that will exceed your expectations.

Understand the Weight of Choosing an Agent
Choosing the right agent can make all the difference in the world when it comes to buying your dream home or selling your current home at an excellent price. Choosing the wrong agent can cost you to pay thousands more for a home, leave thousands on the table when selling a home, leave you on the hook for random fees, and make you ready to pull your hair out. Buying and selling a home are two exceptionally large financial transactions. Paying 1% more or earning an offer 1% higher may not seem like a lot, but we’re talking thousands of dollars. In spite of those facts, many people still don’t put enough weight on the decision to choose a real estate agent. Typing “real estate agent in Columbia” into a search engine and picking one of the first names you see is never the way to approach such an important decision.

Pick a Realtor® Based on Their Proven Success, Not Their Marketing
Sure, it may be tempting to simply call the smiling agent on the bench sign you drive by every morning. In this day and age, we all want the “scoop” on proven results before we commit. Believe it or not, you can find the perfect realtor® that has data-proven success with past clients that have needs similar to yours. Effective Agents is a website that uses a specialized algorithm to help you find a top-selling realtor® in Columbia that doesn’t simply have good marketing; they have proven results!

Speak with Past Clients
You wouldn’t buy a car off the lot without a test drive, right? The real estate version of a “test drive” comes in the form of references from past clients. Real estate agents are proud of the work they do for their clients and should have some recent clients that are happy to provide testimonials or references for their hard work. 

Find more housing in Columbia and other real estate news by registering on 803area, your free guide to the Columbia area.