Ten Ways To Find The Right Real Estate Agent
Finding a trustworthy real estate agent is an essential part of buying or selling. Find someone who is a match to your personality and perception. Resorting to bombastic advertising campaign is nothing new for real estate agents; and so, you should not fall for any random agent whose face you see on all those billboards and buses. Settling your expectations and matching them with what an agent has to offer could be one way to know whether it’s going to work.
To compete in a competitive market and to experience success, teaming up with an expert is compulsory. Instead of relying on referral and word of mouth, you had better be attending open houses by agents, to verify: are they really what they claim to be? Knowing their work method and approach to deal with a given situation can also be envisaged from such an event.
Once you have shortlisted a few candidates and hope to find the ‘one’ from there, ask them about the following, to obtain a thorough evaluation of their work efficiency:
- Types of properties they are specialized in selling.
- Their length of service, relevant track record, and references.
- Expected rate of commission.
- Strategies followed by them for marketing. Their online presence or website, and preferred advertising methods.
- How much they know about the area where your home is located; and if you are a buyer, their knowledge of the area where you would be making the purchase.
- Their willingness to hold open houses. Ideas about the number of people who may attend. Their availability during a showing.
- Can you expect feedbacks from them after every showing?
- The price they would suggest for your property, and why?
- Their ways of increasing the asking price for your home.
- Would they agree to cancel any listing if you don’t like it?
Select someone with whom you feel comfortable discussing all ins and outs. If you have even a slight hesitation, then change your mind before you sign the contract. Don’t give in in the face of mounting pressure.
As you sign a contract, your relator gets the permission to get information from any conventional or unofficial sources. They also preserve the right to share the information with other people or agencies. A standard contract will also contain all the terms and conditions regarding duties and commissions.
The moment you sign a contract, the Property Disclosure Statement (PDS) is also completed. PDS may vary state by state, but in general it’s a demo of the perspective of the property owner. This article cannot be overestimated at all – it may be used against owners if they provided misleading information, or hid anything that should have been declared.
So before signing a contract, review everything thoroughly and keep shooting questions until the cloud of doubt goes away. Only after becoming totally sure, you should proceed to sign the dotted line. This will ensure transparency and a cooperative work environment between you and your realtor.