Many of the same questions, hesitations and strategies connected with seeking out professional assistance in any field — whether you’re looking for a doctor, lawyer or accountant — come into play when you’re selecting a real estate agent. Some people find an agent through a family member or friend. This is often a reliable approach. But you might not always find the most compatible assistance this way. And in a transaction as important and intensive as buying and selling a home, that can be critical.
Regardless of how you get an agent’s name, it might be worth interviewing at least a couple before you make a final decision — or at least arming yourself with some criteria to go over with any agent who has been recommended to you.
A few things to look for:
If they have not been in local real estate for several years, they may not know some of the important historical data they need to give sound advice about the area.
What is your negotiation style?You need to know how you fit in with your agent to better know if he is right for you and that the agent has the negotiation skills they need to represent you properly.
How do you prepare information about relevant home choices for me ahead of time?Your Realtor should have this done for you based on your specified criteria so that you have a good supply of current information.
What if anything you can do to save me money on the items that regularly come up in the closing process?Realtors know the costs involved, and a good realtor can save you money through his relationships in the industry.
Can you pre-qualify me and help me with financing options?Every situation is different. Your Realtor should be able to give you some alternatives. Banks aren’t the only place to get this advice.
What kind of properties have you had experience selling?Find out the detailed knowledge that the agent has of homes that will fit you.
Of course there are always other questions but we have found that these are typically questions that will help you know you are dealing with an experienced realtor. Finding the right real estate professional requires doing a little research and asking a few questions can save you a lot of money and time. You need to know everything about the selling process. What is the marketing strategy? What kind of advertising will be done? Can the realtor effectively present and sell the less-noticeable assets of the property? Is the realtor capable and willing to communicate effectively?
Real estate professionals also need to be knowledgeable about the community. That’s why find a local REALTOR is better chose. They need to have a feel for the history of the area and the approximate price that people will be willing to pay. Also, real estate agents should know what the competition is and how much it will affect your sale.
Never choose a realtor on price alone. Remember that a realtor cannot magically raise the selling price of the house. Consider the buyer. The purchaser won’t willingly pay too much; it’s most likely that he or she will do research on the market and try to find the best product for the best price. The facts simply cannot be changed, no matter which realtor you select. In spite of these unchangeable factors, the realtor you select must still be diligent and knowledgeable.
If your property does not elicit attention within several weeks, the cause can most likely be attributed to one of these three factors: location, condition, and price. The location obviously cannot be changed. You should consider examining the conditioning of your property and re-evaluating the marketing strategy. Ask your realtor to offer an explanation of the competition and your pricing strategy.
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