Guelph Rental Properties – Choosing the Right Realtor

Choosing the Right Guelph Realtor for Rental PropertiesAnd… we’re off! At least we are if we’re investors buying or selling Guelph rental properties – or Realtors like myself who work with investors.

January typically signifies the beginning of what can be a very frenetic time in the Guelph rental investor market. It can, in short, go a bit wild.

Will it happen this year? I think so, but of course I am speculating based upon past experience. Fairly predictably, we emerge from a holiday slow down and all of a sudden people are ready to sell, sell, sell… and investors want to buy, buy, buy.

Whether you’re looking to buy or sell a Guelph rental property, an important first question is… Are you ready? But also importantly… is your Realtor ready? Because this is not the time to ease in to the buying or selling process. Getting your listing timing and strategy right from the get-go is critical for sellers. And moving quickly (but not wrecklessly) is key for buyers, because once those properties come up, suddenly – poof! – they’re gone.

I’m a big believer in vetting out professionals, and I always encourage prospective clients to ask me questions in order to help them determine if I’m the right fit for them, and vice versa.

What questions should you ask a Realtor if you are an investor buyer or seller of Guelph rental properties? Here are two:

  1. How much experience do you have specifically with regard to selling or buying rental properties? Work with a Realtor who is experienced in helping people buy and sell investment properties. You can’t afford to be someone’s training ground. If someone tells you that buying a rental property is the same as buying any home… they’re wrong. And selling tenanted property can be tricky, too. Seek out the representation of a Realtor who has done this before, who has knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act, who understands aspects of leasing and property management, who can speak with confidence about aspects specific to Guelph rentals, and who can write offer clauses designed to protect your interests.
  2. How will we work together, and how accessible are you? For sellers, it’s important to work with someone who can jump quickly into the market and list a property when the timing is right. Ask any Realtor about the strategies and systems they will use to get your home ready for sale and marketed effectively. If the property is tenanted, what suggestions do they have for making the process run as smoothly as possible? For buyers, it’s critical to work with a Realtor who understands that time is of the essence when suitable properties hit the market. This is not the time to be waiting around for a part-time agent to finish his day job. (By the way, the reverse applies, too. If you’re serious about buying a rental property, you’ll need to move quickly as well.)

Obviously, there are more than two questions to ask any Realtor, but you get the idea. If you’re an investor, work with a Guelph Realtor who has experience helping people like you.

Feel free to contact me for more information.

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