What you don't know about hiring a real estate agent...
Choosing an agent can be difficult. You want to sell your home for the best price possible and spend as little as possible doing it. However, there are many factors to consider when making this choice. Premier Realty of North Carolina offers some excellent advice on chooosing an agent that will work for you.
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Many home buyers and sellers (the client) in the Winston Salem and Lake Norman areas are often clueless when it comes to working with a real estate agent. Nine times out of ten the client will hire the first agent they meet. Typically the rule states that if the client likes you and it appears you know what you are talking about then you get the job. This article is dedicated to educating the public about the five things they should know before hiring an agent:
1) Know what kind of agent you want. In North Carolina there are 3 types of agents:
· The buyer’s agent who exclusively represents the buyer client.
· The seller’s agent who exclusively represents the seller client
· The duel agent who may referee an entire transaction for both parties
Therefore the question to ask yourself, is what type of agent do you need?
2) Do not tell any all the agents you interview vital information about the transaction. For example, if you interview three Winston Salem real estate agents and you tell all of them you must sell in order to take a new job elsewhere. You have no lien on the home but want to get as much as possible in the sale of the property. All three agents are privy to this information but you only get to hire one. Thus, the remaining two agents can and will use that information against you if they bring a potential buyer.
3) Just because you like them does not mean they are right. The worst mistake a seller can make is hiring a Winston Salem real estate agent that tells the client what they want to hear, not the truth. I get referrals often from agents who will not take a listing because they do not want to tell the sellers bad news. The hard truth is that the market is tough on sellers. A lesser experienced agent will ask you what price tag you want to put your home. A seasoned professional with tell you what the market says your home is worth. After all, the market is what controls home values, the price tag is the result of what buyers expect to pay given the current market conditions.
4) Get advice on the process and do not try to do it yourself. Get advice from the Winston Salem real estate agent you want to use. If you need an appraisal, loan, attorney, or other venders then consider the broker’s recommendations. Many clients are fearful that agents are getting a "kick back" or something for working with certain vendors. This may be possible in a very limited number of situations, but most agent’s partner with vendors that can get the job done and for a fair price. The real estate brokers want a deal to go smoothly so they learn things like which lenders will make it harder for you, and which inspectors are trustworthy. Once in a while you will get a bad recommendation, but it is better than picking everyone out of the phone book at random.
5) The last tip on hiring an agent is to ask for testimonials and references. If you were the head of any major company interviewing for a new employee you would ask for references. Thus, hiring an agent should be no different. Ask for several past client references, or even other Winston Salem real estate agents in the area that could speak to the professionalism of your prospective hire. Then actually call them and see what they have to say about the broker you may be hiring.
There you have the five things every buyer or seller client in the Winston Salem to Lake Norman areas should know before talking to a real estate agent!
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