How to Find a Real Estate Agent
Posted by admin | Posted in Real Estate | Posted on 12-03-2010
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You probably already know how to find a real estate agent when you want to sell your house or other real estate. All you have to do is put a “for sale sign” out and wait for the phone to ring. But how do you find the right real estate agent for your property? Here are some tips to get you started, followed by the questions you need to ask.
Note which day most brokers typically advertise real estate in your local newspaper. Get that day’s issue, and also collect a few real estate guides. Find advertisements for properties similar to yours. For example, if you are selling a lakefront home, you want to look for those.
Take notes, writing down the names and numbers of the agents selling similar properties. You want to find real estate agents who have experience with your type of real estate. The woman who has all the million dollar homes listed may not be the best one to sell your vacant commercial lot. Try to find agents who have sold or are selling several properties like yours, and start calling them. Call those who are active in your general area first – they are more likely to know how to properly price and market your real estate.
Hiring the right agent can mean thousands of dollars to you. When I was a new agent many years ago, I told a couple that we should list their home for $59,000, but they insisted on $65,000. We got a full price offer within a month. In other words, my advice could have cost them $6,000 in lost profit.
Find A Real Estate Agent – And Ask These Questions
Always ask as many questions as you need to, starting with the ones below. Most real estate agents won’t like it, but this really is a job interview – and you’re the one hiring him or her. Thus you should ask questions like:
How much experience do you have, and what kind? – The importance of experience is shown in my own confession above. I wouldn’t use an agent with less than a year of experience unless he or she had experience in a related field, like appraisal or mortgage lending. As for the type of experience, you want one that has sold properties like yours.
Can you give me examples? – Get an address or two. Then you can drive by and see what kind of properties he really has experience with.
Why should I list my property with you? – An obvious question, but listen closely to what he has to say. He needs to sell himself to you for you to trust that he can sell your real estate.
What will you do to market my property? – She should do more than place an ad and put your home in the MLS listings. Is she working with any people looking for properties like yours? How will she let other agents know about your listing and encourage them to bring buyers to see it?
Other Questions For An Agent
Do you show your own listings?
Do you handle your own closings?
How much is your commission, and what is included?
Are your listings selling close to the asking price?
How long do you think it will take to sell?
How long is your listing agreement for?
How will you determine the asking price?
How To Find A Real Estate Agent – Other Considerations
Be suspicious if it takes a dozen rings for someone to answer the phone at the real estate office. Hang up and try again later, to see if this is normal. If you have a hard time getting through, buyers will as well. Note whether your calls are returned promptly when you leave a message also.
Avoid agents who just want to agree with whatever you say. They just want to get the listing, but you want an expert who will tell you what he honestly thinks. Have him go over every detail of the listing agreement, and ask many questions. The agreement is a legal contract. Suppose you get a full-priced offer, but you changed your mind about the price or about selling. You’ll probably have to pay the commission anyhow – check the contract.
Ask to review papers you’ll have to sign when your property is sold. Will you likely have to pay for inspections, or to have a survey completed? Find a good real estate agent and you’ll get the answers to these questions.
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Help answer the question about real estate agent
How can I become a real estate agent in NC?1. What do I need to do to become a real estate agent in Charlotte, NC?
2. What classes do I need to take?
3. Where can I study to become a real estate agent in Charlotte, NC?
4. What are the requirements?
5. Any other information I need to know about becoming a real estate agent?
Go to realestate.com.
There is a ton of forclused condos listed with the real estate agents that can help you.
My choice for real estate agents to buy thru is Zip. Reality. They offer you a 20% of there commision back to you.
However i do not use them to sell a home.
There are several ways to find a good agent in your hometown…….The first thing you need to understand is that it does not matter how much money you have as a down payment in order to get an agent that is patient and ethical. You will have to decide if the agent that you are dealing with has those qualities.
Here are a couple ways;
Go to your hometown and walk through some real estate doors.
If you can't go to your hometown first, then get on the phone and call at least three offices and speak with the agent on duty. Ask for listings to be emailed to you and then sit back and see who comes through and the differences that comes with the same search perimeters. After having the information sent to you over a period of time, then you will be able to see which agent fits your needs best. If you don't think that any of the agents are a good fit to you, then keep looking. That agent is out there. Good luck, and happy house hunting!
Being a first time home buyer can be a little scary. The first place to start is ask your family and friends about there purchase, a lot of times if they had a good encounter that will make the process a lot easier. But you should do some home work yourself as well. Find out who the Top Real Estate Agents are in the area in your local paper as well as on-line. Research there websites and see the information they are showing you. You also at the same time need to research who will be doing your loan. You can surely be pre-qualified at a local bank but your options will be limited. Look into lender not a broker, if you can find a local lender who has a corespondent relationship they may be your best bet. This lender will have control over your loan process with a wide range of products that can fulfill your needs. You still have to build a trust relationship with this person so there are many qualified questions you should ask them. Such as: What are interest rates are based on?
What are the next Economic Report or event that could cause market movemment?
When the Fed "changes rates", what does that mean for Morrtgage rates?
What is going on in the market today and the near future?
If a Mortgage Person can not answer this run away from them as they are not on top of the important information. Also make sure that you get a Good Faith Estimate for review.
The mortgage industry is a tough one with a lot of people out there just looking to make fast oney, try to work with a professional that is in it for a career. Meet face to face with the person and have a list of questions for them, you should be able to get a good feeling from there.
being into real estate myself, I really thought this was funny, great job
Lol
Love you too. ♥
The most important thing is to use a broker or agent who is active in your area. They are more likely to take prospects to an area where they can show several homes than to drive a long distance just to show one. Drive around & see who has signs up in your neghborhood — especially if they have "sold" signs tacked up. Vist the people who have sold & ask them about the broker/agent.
If you are approved for an FHA Loan, then the property doesn't matter, aside from the price. Each county has its own FHA Mortgage Limits. You can check out yours by visiting the below website:
https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/hicostlook.cfm
Most real estate agents should have some experience with FHA Loans, as they have become a very popular loan. The best thing you can do is contact your local real estate offices and ask whoever answers the phone if any agents specifically deal with FHA customers.
The only properties that need to be FHA Approved are condos. You can find a list of FHA Approved condos in your area by visiting:
https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/condlook.cfm
I hope this helps!
Will you tell me what it is? I like the name.
afraid not fungirl
@fungirl1950 O RLLY?
This is a Cart/Horse type question.
You may be in a better position to purchase a home if you already have a "Pre-Approval" (not Pre-Qualified) letter stating how much you have to spend, but many Loan Companies won't Pre-Approve you unless you have an Offer to Purchase for a particular property.
You probably should get a Real Estate Agent to act as your Buyer's Agent, on your behalf.
not Donaldson, but Ronaldson. I like my name too :p
The salesmanship of hte agent does matter, they write the ads to get attention. Also, some are willing to spend more then others finding you a buyer.
Honestly, the only way you can get a good one is to ask your friends and co-workers. The test is very simple to become an agent, but only 5-10% of them are really good. Ask people who recently sold who they recommend. Even people who bought will be able to tell you who the selling agent was.
If you don't know anyone check the paper and read the ads. You aren't looking for a house, but a well writen ad that would spark interest. That will be the agent you want promoting your property.
what is your email and I will tell you my name.
Go with a brokerage that specialises in CRE such as C.B. Richrad Ellis…..funny thing about CRE is that mist inventory is rarely advertised in traditional medium but a specilaized CRE agent will know who is selling and will help you determine if the price is too high. There are certain things to look out for when analysing income-producing proeprty that are unique to CRE: 1) Strength of net cash flow 2) Cap rates 3) NPV (net present value) 4) Character of bldg. A good CRE agent will know about these factors.
I am surprised at some of the answers here. I would say to find an office near where you are looking for a home or near where you live and set up some time to meet with the Realtors that work out of that office.
Check out their websites.
Does their website require you to provide personal information before they will give you anything?
Is the website a glorified business card?
Visit the "about us" section. Has it been written by a person with whom you can relate?
Are you going to enjoy spending time with the person?
Will the real estate agent do a good job representing you?
These are the most important issues.
Do a Yahoo search for real estate blogs and you will probably find a site called http://ww.activerain.com. Find your state and city and read through the blogs of the active members there. You will get a feel for their personality and how they do business. Personality isn't most important, but it is a factor.
I have a real estate license and so does my wife. She works with many buyers. You can view http://www.peoria-real-estate-info.com/ArizonaRealEstateAgent.html get to know me page to see what I am talking about.
A real state agent that represents the buyer is paid by the seller of the home. The owner of the home actually writes into the contract how much they are willing to pay an agent that finds a buyer for their home. In Arizona it is typically 3% of the purchase price. The commission is paid out of the seller's proceeds when the home is sold.
The great part about this is that a buyer does not need to incur any costs to be represented by a real estate agent.
But think about it, the buyer of a property is in position to be taken advantage of. You don't know anything about the history of the home, claims against th property, all you know is that you like it enough to make an offer on the property. The agent that is representing the seller might be friendly, but their job is to get the most money possible for their seller and to get YOU to buy the home.
An agent that represents a buyer is looking to help you find the perfect home for you at the best price possible. If you don't find a home, then no sellers pay them.