All set to start looking for your home sweet home in Mississauga or want to sell your old property? Either way, you will need an expert brokerage firm to guide you through this journey.

The brokerage you choose can make or break your home-buying or selling experience. You shouldn’t hire an amateur property brokerage firm that considers you as “just another transaction.” Instead, you will need a team of seasoned professionals who have the knowledge and expertise to do the job right.

Now you must be worrying your head thinking “Out of all the countless brokerage firms in the market, I have no idea how to find the best one?”

That’s okay - we have the answer to this. In this blog, we will help you figure out how to find the best real estate brokerage in Mississauga so you can hire the right expert.

Agents, Brokers, and Realtors®: Do They Mean the Same Thing?

Agents, brokers, and REALTORS® are not the same professionals. As someone who is going to buy or sell a property in Mississauga soon, you should know what makes them different.

1. Real Estate Agent - A real estate agent is a licensed professional who helps people buy, sell, or invest in properties. To become a real estate agent in Canada, an individual must take licensing training from a certified institution. After getting their license, they must affiliate themselves with a real estate brokerage.

2. Real Estate Broker - A real estate broker receives additional training and licensing beyond the agent’s level. They also have more years of experience than agents. The major difference between a real estate agent and a broker is that an agent must work under a brokerage but a broker can work independently.

3. REALTOR® - A REALTOR® is a real estate agent or broker who is a member of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). They must adhere to the code of rules and ethics as laid down by CREA.

How to Find the Top Real Estate Brokerage in Mississauga?

1. Turn to Friends and Family for Recommendations

Remember, some decades back, when we had no Internet and had to buzz up our inner circle for referrals of any kind? Whether we needed a plumber to fix that leaky faucet or a tree expert to trim a shabby shrub, we used to turn to our neighbours or friends for recommendations.

Guess what? This referral method still works amazingly in real estate. According to a National Association of Realtors report, 43% of homebuyers went ahead with a real estate agent referred to them by a neighbour or friend. Also, 65% of sellers successfully sold a home with a professional who was referred to them by a friend, relative, or neighbour.

So, to find the “best real estate brokerage near me,” reach out to your family and friends who have bought or sold a property recently. They can give you the inside scoop on the strengths and weaknesses of brokerages in your area.

2. Dig More Information About Referrals Online

Okay by now, you have got some names of real estate professionals. It is time to dig for more information about them online. So, open your go-to search engine and start looking deep into the background of each brokerage firm. Check out their websites, stalk all their social media accounts, and see their online reviews.

If you see a few negative reviews, there’s no reason to panic. But if there are more not-so-good reviews than positive reviews or if the brokerage is turning a blind eye to the negative feedback, that is a red flag. How a real estate brokerage in Mississauga interacts with their clients online speaks a lot about their professionalism and commitment to keeping clients happy.

3. Connect One-on-One with at Least 2-3 Candidates

Did your boss hire you right away just by looking at your resume or would you do that? No, right?

The same goes for hiring a brokerage firm for buying or selling a property. Do not make the final call without actually meeting with at least 2-3 brokerages that you have shortlisted.

Through these interviews, you can assess their local market knowledge and communication skills. Discuss your needs and expectations openly and see if the real estate brokerage in Mississauga is able to understand your preferences.

Remember, the home-buying or selling journey is going to be a long one. You do not want to hire a professional with whom you cannot communicate openly or who fails to understand what you need.

Here is a list of questions you must ask during the interview to learn more about the brokerage firm-

• How long have you been helping clients buy and sell homes in Mississauga?

• What is your expertise in the specific neighbourhood or type of property I am interested in?

• What marketing strategies will you use to make my property stand out in the market?

• Can you walk me through the current conditions in the Mississauga real estate market?

• Can you provide references from any of your past clients?

4. It Is Time to Choose "The One"

Now the time has come for you to choose the best real estate brokerage in Mississauga. Trust your instincts to do that. Think about how comfortable you felt interacting with each brokerage and if they will keep your best interests in their heart.

For the real estate transaction to go successfully, you need to have a solid working relationship with the brokerage. If something doesn’t feel right about a brokerage firm, go with the other options.

Wrapping Up!

So, you have finally found the perfect real estate brokerage - the one that you feel can help you seamlessly navigate through the home-buying/selling process. We know you must be all excited at this point and cannot wait to sign the contract and start the real estate process. But before you seal the deal with the brokerage firm, read and review the contract thoroughly.

Look closely at the commission rates, contract duration, and any additional fees. A professional brokerage will be happy to walk you through the contract, making sure you feel confident and informed before signing on the dotted line.