Questions to Ask Real Estate Agents
A real estate agent devotes her entire workday to listing, reviewing, buying and selling property. It's not uncommon for a real estate agent to buy and sell homes in only one city or region. This is where real estate agents earn their chops. Their local or regional focus helps to make them market specialist. They know what's selling, where the best sells are and at what price. It could take you months, maybe years, to learn what an experienced real estate pro knows. Whether you're buying or selling your house, a real estate agent knows how to negotiate mortgage deals with lenders, other agents and house owners who are working toward direct sells.
You deserve the right answers from your real estate agent
Yet, all real estate agents are not equally experienced, knowledgeable or fully devoted to their clients. Set yourself up for a profitable house buying or house selling experience. Ask your real estate agent these important questions. How long have you been working full-time as areal estate agent? Top real estate agents, are fully invested in their career. Buying and selling homes isn't a side gig for them. Since markets shift, the more experience agents have, the more likely they are to spot changing trends.In addition to finding out how experienced a real estate agent is, make sure that your agent is in good standing with state licensing agencies.
What types of properties do you generally buy or sell? A real estate agent who mainly buys or sells land properties or commercial properties may not secure the best house deal for you.
About how much do you think I can get for my house in the current market? Answers to this question can reveal how honest a real estate agent is. It can also let you know if you'll get more for your house if you wait a few months to sell or to buy.
Regarding advertising and marketing, what do you do to get the word out about houses you are selling? If you're in the market to buy a house, ask your real estate agent how they research available houses. You want a real estate agent who researches houses in databases, online and in person. You also want an agent who has great personal and business contacts that allow him to know about available houses as soon as they hit the market. Furthermore, agents who work for established realtor agencies may have access to larger databases and more research resources.
How many clients are you currently working for? Good real estate agents are in demand.Just make sure that your real estate agent has the bandwidth to offer you the support that you need.
What are your fees and what's included in your fees? Top real estate agents may have 20 or more clients under contract. This volume could give you more negotiating room when it comes to setting a fee. It could also make an agent hard to reach,which is why you should ask the next question.
Find out if services like home staging and open house are included in the fees. How often will you be in touch? You need to know when to expect to hear from your real estate agent. Also, find out if your agent will contact you in-person, via the telephone, during digital face time or via email.
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