Buying or selling a home can be a stressful process. From understanding closing costs to packing up all your belongings to move, there are already dozens of things to think about. Throw in a Permanent Change of Station, and you can see why you’d want to have an extra person in your corner, someone you can count on. The extra challenges that come from buying a home in the military (or selling, for that matter) mean that you’ll want an experienced pro on your side.
The housing market is constantly evolving, so in order to stay afloat, you’ll want someone who is reliable, easily accessible, professional, experienced, and most importantly… committed to helping you reach your real estate goals. That’s why we recommend working with a real estate agent who’s had comprehensive training on working with military servicemen and women, as well as veterans.
How can a real estate agent help when buying or selling a home in the military?
Buying or selling a home should be a smooth and educational experience. There will be plenty of things you’ll learn from your agent as they help you navigate through the lists of tasks you’ll need to accomplish during the process of buying or selling a home. They will become your trusted advisor, to say the least. You’ll spend an ample amount of time with them, as they will act as a sounding board for you at times when something foreign arises. Keeping all that in mind, it is really important that personalities and expectations align at the commencement of the business relationship.
What factors should I consider when choosing a real estate agent?
Some other things to consider when finding the perfect agent to work with are:
- Knowledge – Work with an agent that is familiar in the local market and has a grasp on the ins and outs of the military transition process.
- Experience – Real estate is not just a job for great agents, it’s the lifestyle they’ve chosen to help home buyers and sellers with their real estate needs.
- Awareness – Real estate agents know “what’s happening” around the area, so they can be a resource to others in addition to being an agent.
- Connections – You’ll want to work with an agent who is respected in the community and has a solid networking sphere full of professionals that deal with anything and everything encompassing real estate.
- Negotiations – An agent who has exceptional negotiation skills can be invaluable, as there can be a multitude of items that need to be considered, evaluated and negotiated throughout the process.
- Closing with Ease – As you reach the end of your real estate journey, you’ll want an agent who will be right next to you at the closing table to answer any last-minute questions or address any concerns that arise.
- Company Backing – A level of comfort comes from working with an agent associated with a reputable organization that you can easily research on your own.
In addition to the items listed above, our goal is to pair you with an agent who has also been through comprehensive training for our U.S. Military on the Move Program*. This ensures that our agents truly understand the process that our military members face during a transition.
Whether you need to quickly sell your property because you just got hard orders to leave the area, or you’re looking to buy because you are moving to the area…we understand. We’re here for our military and we’re definitely here for you!
*The military member must register before working with a Howard Hanna Sales Associate – advance registration is required. Cash Rewards are available in most states; some restrictions may apply.
[…] Buying or selling a home can be a stressful process. From understanding closing costs to packing up all your belongings to move, there are already dozens of things to think about. Throw in a Permanent Change of Station, and you… Read more › […]