Deciding to sell or purchase a home is only the first major decision. Finding the best real estate agent to help with the process, is a very time consuming and frustrating adventure. Unless you know someone, how can you be sure they have your best interest at heart?
The first thing you should do is ask close friends and family if they have had any experience with a local real estate agent. If they recommend someone, you still need to do your homework. Find out as much information as possible about the transaction experience. A few questions to ask:
Were they buying or selling?
If selling:
Did your real estate agent always call you back in a timely manner?
Did the agent advertise your home to your satisfaction?
Did the agent explain completely all offers received?
Did the agent recommend things to improve the appearance for a quicker and higher selling price?
If buying:
Did the real estate agent only show you his/her office listings at first, instead of all listings that you may have been interested in?
Did the agent really listen to what you were wanting in a home, or always tried to show you higher priced homes?
You may think this next question is a given, but I was in the industry for years, I know different.
Did the agent show up to the closing of your real estate transaction?
These questions will get you started. Now comes for the interview of the agents. Yes, meet them, tell them what you are planning and let them know upfront you are speaking to a number of agents. Believe me personalities play an important role; you are going to be spending a lot of time communicating with this individual.
Once you have gathered all the information possible and have made a decision. A seller’s agent is going to require a signed contract to list your home. Most want a six month contract; if I were you in this market, I would negotiate a shorter length of time. This way if you find you are not compatible, you’re not stuck in a long contract.
If you are looking to purchase a home, there should be no contract necessary. Therefore, if you realize it is not a good match, you are able to step away from the relationship and try another real estate agent.
Gather all the information you can about a number of agents in your area; take your time in making any decisions. Whether buying or selling this is a very important decision in your life. Don’t just look in the paper and start trying to work with any agent, take your time. You want this experience to be a pleasant memory.
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