When
you want to buy or sell property, the smartest thing you can do is hire
a great agent which is harder than it sounds. You want to find an agent
who you like and trust, who knows what they are doing and can prove
it!
We recommend asking two basic categories of questions to help determine if an agent is right for you:
1. The first category is all about the agent: What can you tell me about your experience as an agent?
- Do you work full time or part time? Full
time means real estate is their livelihood; agents who work full time
will typically be better to work with because they are not juggling more
than one job & they have flexible schedules to be present
throughout the entire home-buying process. However, an agent who is
working full time but they are not local won't be as helpful as an agent
who is locally based; local agents have knowledge of schools, community
happenings, connections with local lenders, etc. and this can often be
the key to finding the right fit.
- How long have you been licensed? The
longer the better; more experienced agents know how the business works
and how to overcome obstacles that a newer agent may get stuck on.
However, some new agents are hungry for work and can have experienced
teams behind them to help them with snags.
- Is your license in good standing? You
want to know if your agent has ever been subject to a client complaint,
if they are part of their local board and if they have access to the
MLS (multiple listing system - nationwide database of houses, regardless
of what company is listing the home; agents who only have access to
their company’s website, will not be able to help you remotely as much
as agents with access to MLS), this will allow them to have the best
resources available to buy or sell your home.
- Can I contact recent past clients for recommendations? You
will want to ask your agent for past client referrals and testimonials;
ideally you want this information from current or recent clients they
have worked with and more than one if possible.
- Do you have a website & any social media that I can preview? A well-connected agent means they are operating in the 21st century and will be able to use all avenues of technology to your advantage for marketing or finding properties.
- How did your last 2 deals surprise you? It's
helpful to know how your agent resolves conflicts that arise; an agent
who is good a problem solver is ideal with a market that is filled with
unexpected hurdles!
- What are your fees? It
is important to know from the start what you are getting yourself into.
Agents typically work for a percentage (usually paid by the selling
side of the transaction), however some agencies tack on a bunch of other
fees that other agencies don’t.
- What do you expect from me? Real
estate transactions require all hands on deck. If your agent has not
mentioned “your part” of the process, be sure to ask. When selling,
there will be things like staging, communicating available times for
showings, disclosing known facts about your property, etc. and same goes
for the buying side as well. It is also helpful to know how often they
will be contacting you, you want someone who is in constant contact and
updating you at least weekly with progress.
- What aspects of the transaction will you personally handle and which will be delegated to others? Nothing
is better than having a totally hands-on agent, except having a team of
hands-on agents. Working with an agent who has a strong team to help
get the job done ensures that you will always have someone available to
you who knows your transaction just as well as your primary agent.
- What is your plan? If
you are using an agent to sell your home, ask what their marketing plan
is; your agent should provide you with a CMA (comparative market
analysis) which includes current listings & recent sales and the
more data they can show you the better! If you are using an agent to
help you find a home, they should be able to send you property reports
and CMA's for houses you are interested in.
- What are you working on currently? It
is good to have a full time agent but you don’t want one who is
stretched too thin. Agents usually represent a few people at any given
time and it is important to know their availability for you and your
needs. Ask when they are not available, how much time they spend on
their current clients and how much they plan to dedicate to you.
- Can you explain the process to me? Ask
to see all documents you will be required to sign and if there is
something you don’t understand then have them explain it. An agent
should be able to walk you through a step-by-step process of what the
buying or selling side of a transaction will typically look like. It is
always better for you to have a head’s up about deadlines and other
things that will eventually come your way. A good question to end on
here is: What haven't I asked you that I need to know?
Finding an agent may be more
difficult than you originally thought, but by asking the right questions, you
can be sure to find the right match! Remember: anyone can be an agent, but a good agent is hard to come by. The
Real Estate Professionals at Regal Homes welcome you to ask us questions
or share your concerns, we are always happy to help in any way that we can.
Read more:
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/real-estate/7-tips-for-picking-a-real-estate-agent-1.aspx#ixzz3PZc8gYJ8
http://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Good-Real-Estate-Agent
http://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Good-Real-Estate-Agent
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