Five Things to Consider Before Hiring A Realtor
If you are a re typical home buyer or seller, you’ll want a qualified real estate agent to help you through the process. Real estate agents act as liaisons, an intermediary between buyers and sellers, and can help with proficient experience, valuable expertise, local knowledge and good negotiating skills all of which can save you effort, time and money.
Here are five important things to consider which can help you find the best realtor for you.
#1. Does He / She Work Part-Time Or Full-Time As A Real Estate Agent?
The housing market moves at a fast pace, so it is better to have a full-time real estate agent working daily on your behalf. However, it may become a challenge to schedule showings, meetings and closings. So, if you are working around your own 9-5 job, a part-time agent may be more available during non-business hours. You should find out before hiring one, how much focus and time they’ll put in for your home search or sale.
#2. What Type Of Real Estate License Does He / She Have?
Real estate licensing is acquired at the state level, and most states offer two types of licenses: sales and broker. A broker’s license is quite different from a real estate agent’s license as it requires additional tests, education and experience.
#3. How Long Has He / She Been In The Real Estate Business?
Years of experience don’t always mean you have the best agent. New agents may not have as much experience as the others, but they may actually be more efficient and work harder for you because it can help their careers and reputations.
#4. How Many Buyers And Sellers Is He / She Also Representing?
Most agents who are usually busy with lots of buyers and sellers tend to be efficient, and may even have their own dedicated assistant who can help with a variety of tasks, such as paperwork, setting up showings and meetings, etc.
#5. Which Techniques Will He / She Use To Help Buy/Sell Your House?
Normally, the real estate market is fast but technology has made it even faster. Presently, mobile devices with electronic-signing make it easy to submit offers quickly, which can make all the difference in an active market. Real estate agents should use technology to both grow their businesses and help their clients. Social media, apps, email marketing and an active online presence can be helpful to both buyers and sellers.
While some home buyers and sellers may choose to do this on their own, other prefer to use the efficient services of a real estate agent to guide them through the process. There are many questions you may want to ask an agent, depending on whether you’re selling or buying. If you’re a seller, for example, you’ll want to ask how they will price your property, and what the average difference is between their sales and price list.
You’ll also want to know how much commission they charge. If you’re a buyer, you should find out if they specialize in the neighborhoods that are of interest to you.
Choosing a professional real estate agent is an important step in the home buying/selling process. It pays to ask questions and consider certain things before hiring them, so that you find the most qualified agent, with whom you’ll be able to work well with.
