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entifying a good and reliable broker is the first step in your entry into the property market. However, there are no defined policy guidelines in this highly disorganized business and Track2Realty suggests that one has to be careful judging the intent and credentials of the broker with certain tangible and intangible parameters.
Akanksha Sharma went on a house hunt in Ahmedabad only to keep wondering that how the price of a flat in the same apartment at Sanand can differ so much. With very many flats available it was also not a case of demand-supply mismatch. On a close scrutiny she found out that it was a case of getting into the murky world of property brokers.
Akanksha is not alone in having to face such a dilemma while on a house hunt. Property seekers across the country are regularly subjected to harassment at the hands of the property brokers. It seems while buying a house one has to get into the network of these brokers who in the absence of any defined policy guidelines drive the realty market as per their whims and fancies.
Every house seeker needs a good broker. The problem is how to identify who is a better one. It seems a good broker is something that every home seeker wants and only a few get. Identifying a good broker is half the battle won in your property search as one can then lead you to not only get the right property but also help in the loan process and other due diligence.
But the question is how to identify a good broker? Experts suggest a couple of tangible and intangible parameters on which you can select or reject a broker. First, the very obvious which you can notice by sheer observation-what is the size of the broker’s office, does he have facilities like phone, fax, email, a website. Also, how much staff does he have?
The broker should be accessible and have systems in place so that one can be contacted easily. A proper office demonstrates his commitment to the business over long term. It is a significant positive if a broker has more than one office and the location of his office in a prime commercial centre exhibits his financial muscle.
Next come things which you can inquire of a broker: Since when has the broker been practicing? Experience is an important indicator: Find out about the broker’s knowledge and ability to communicate effectively. A good broker can help facilitate the best deal by virtue of his or her knowledge of the market and save you a lot of pain by helping you navigate through legal glitches. One should also know which are the areas covered under his purview and his network partners, number of partners and areas covered through partners.
