Home buyers guide tips for choosing a real estate agent

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

Choosing the right real estate agent when selling a home is extremely important. Its important because once you sign a contract with a real estate agent, youre bound to that real estate agent. Do a little research in advance to find the real estate agent that will best suit your needs. Doing so will save you money as well as valuable time. If you make an uninformed decision when choosing a real estate agent, your home or property may not sell in a timely manner, and you may not get the return on your investment that you were hoping for.

First of all, its a good idea to watch your local newspapers to see which real estate agents place the most weekly ads. Newspaper ads are a great source of exposure for your property. Depending on where you live, a newspaper ad can reach tens of thousands of people. Newspaper ad space is quite expensive, and you will probably pay the same percentage rate of commission whether or not the real estate agent you choose uses newspaper advertising. Go for the agent that will give you the most exposure as well as meet all of your other requirements.

Make sure the real estate agent you choose is a member of the MLS. This well-known abbreviation stands for multiple listing service. This service links participating real estate agents and brokers so they can access, view, and set up appointments to show other real estate agents listings. Each home, business, or property is given a specific identification number with the multiple listing service. This is an invaluable service since it gives other real estate agents and brokerage firms the opportunity to sell your home or property. If an agent other than yours sells your property, they will share the profits with your realtor. This agreement does not effect the agreed upon percentage rate.

Ask potential real estate agents about their track record. You have a right to know how many properties they have listed and sold as well as how many days those properties were on the market before selling. Keep in mind that a real estate agent with many listings is not necessarily the best real estate agent. The number of properties sold is what ultimately counts.

One of the most important questions to ask a potential real estate agent is how much that agent will charge for selling your property. This is typically a percentage rate of the sale price. For example, some real estate agents may charge 6 percent interest on the final selling price. Other real estate agents may charge 7 percent. It all depends on where you live. Agents working in areas that receive higher rates of commission will sometimes not bother with properties having a lower contracted percentage rate. It simply is not worth their time or effort to travel a great distance for a lower rate of commission, especially with no guarantee of making a sale. Also, realtors will try harder to sell real estate that will gain them a higher rate of profit. It is for this reason that its best not to bargain for a lower rate. Besides a lower rate of commission, you may find yourself with a lower rate of service.

Dont be apprehensive about interviewing a prospective agent before signing on the dotted line. If the agent gives you the answers you are looking for thats great, but you should also be comfortable with that agent. A real estate agent is supposed to work for you. Therefore it is your right to ask as many questions as necessary before deciding on and choosing the right agent.