So you are ready to buy a home. Or perhaps you are selling. You might be buying your first home, or you might be moving up into a larger house. There are many things to take into consideration when selecting a Realtor to help you buy or sell a home. The first thought may be to turn to family or friends. You may have a friend or relative that is a Realtor, but are they necessarily the correct person for you?
You should select a real estate agent the same way you would choose any other professional service provider. A friend or family member should understand that they would need to compete like any other Realtor to obtain your listing or help you find that new home. There is also the danger that if you hire your friend and things don't turn out well, the relationship might suffer.
There is a Realtor that lives in your neighborhood. Knowledge of your neighborhood or the neighborhood in which you are looking to purchase is important, however you need to find an agent with knowledge of the recent sales, the schools, the businesses and factors important to you. If they're helping you buy a new home, they'll need to know how to identify your needs and find homes that meet those needs. In order to sell your current home, they'll need to know what to market to buyers - both about your home and the neighborhood.
Which is better, a Realtor that works for a large real estate company, or someone independent? There are some advantages to using an agent who works with a big company. They have larger staff and are open longer hours so there is a good chance someone is there to answer calls on your home. They have large advertising budgets, so they might run more ads on your property. The larger offices also offer resources like ongoing training for their agents.
You find an agent who will take the lowest commission. Sure you want to save money but is the lowest priced always the best? You've heard that you get what you pay for. A cut rate service will put your home in the MLS and post a sign in your yard, but is that enough? You want to get your home sold quickly and for the best price. And it's going to take some legwork to find the right new home.
Many people have a price in mind that they'd like to get for the home they're selling. They hire the Realtor that agrees that their house is worth that price. That doesn't mean that there's a buyer who will be willing to pay it. This is called buying your listing. Homes for sale get the most attention in the first days and weeks that they're on the market. Your home will be viewed by lots of potential buyers if it is priced properly. If it is priced too high, no one will bother to show it to their clients. Many sellers who start out too high drop their listing price later. Buyers and their agents see that as a sign of desperation and you may get lower offers than you would have if your home had been priced competitively when it first went on the market.
Conversely, as a buyer, you don't want an agent that will show you homes that are way out of your reach. Some agents will focus in on your price range only and show you homes that are less expensive. Others will show you homes that are out of your reach in the hope that you will stretch a little financially to make it work. The best Realtors listen to what their clients say, match that up with what's available in the marketplace and find the best possible homes for you. To paraphrase and old saying, "They should use their two ears twice as much as their one mouth".
The best agent for you is the agent who will do the best job of finding a home that meets your needs. They may not find one that meets them all but they will show you that they listen and know what you are looking for. If you are selling your home, the Realtor's ability to market it and negotiate the best combination of price and terms is what matters. The common denominator here is a Realtor with good communications skills and a thorough knowledge of the local real estate market. The selection of a good real estate agents is one of the most important factors in the success of your sale of your old home and the purchase of a new one.
You should select a real estate agent the same way you would choose any other professional service provider. A friend or family member should understand that they would need to compete like any other Realtor to obtain your listing or help you find that new home. There is also the danger that if you hire your friend and things don't turn out well, the relationship might suffer.
There is a Realtor that lives in your neighborhood. Knowledge of your neighborhood or the neighborhood in which you are looking to purchase is important, however you need to find an agent with knowledge of the recent sales, the schools, the businesses and factors important to you. If they're helping you buy a new home, they'll need to know how to identify your needs and find homes that meet those needs. In order to sell your current home, they'll need to know what to market to buyers - both about your home and the neighborhood.
Which is better, a Realtor that works for a large real estate company, or someone independent? There are some advantages to using an agent who works with a big company. They have larger staff and are open longer hours so there is a good chance someone is there to answer calls on your home. They have large advertising budgets, so they might run more ads on your property. The larger offices also offer resources like ongoing training for their agents.
You find an agent who will take the lowest commission. Sure you want to save money but is the lowest priced always the best? You've heard that you get what you pay for. A cut rate service will put your home in the MLS and post a sign in your yard, but is that enough? You want to get your home sold quickly and for the best price. And it's going to take some legwork to find the right new home.
Many people have a price in mind that they'd like to get for the home they're selling. They hire the Realtor that agrees that their house is worth that price. That doesn't mean that there's a buyer who will be willing to pay it. This is called buying your listing. Homes for sale get the most attention in the first days and weeks that they're on the market. Your home will be viewed by lots of potential buyers if it is priced properly. If it is priced too high, no one will bother to show it to their clients. Many sellers who start out too high drop their listing price later. Buyers and their agents see that as a sign of desperation and you may get lower offers than you would have if your home had been priced competitively when it first went on the market.
Conversely, as a buyer, you don't want an agent that will show you homes that are way out of your reach. Some agents will focus in on your price range only and show you homes that are less expensive. Others will show you homes that are out of your reach in the hope that you will stretch a little financially to make it work. The best Realtors listen to what their clients say, match that up with what's available in the marketplace and find the best possible homes for you. To paraphrase and old saying, "They should use their two ears twice as much as their one mouth".
The best agent for you is the agent who will do the best job of finding a home that meets your needs. They may not find one that meets them all but they will show you that they listen and know what you are looking for. If you are selling your home, the Realtor's ability to market it and negotiate the best combination of price and terms is what matters. The common denominator here is a Realtor with good communications skills and a thorough knowledge of the local real estate market. The selection of a good real estate agents is one of the most important factors in the success of your sale of your old home and the purchase of a new one.
About the Author:
Whether you're buying a new home in Chula Vista or Des Moines, selecting a good Realtor is one of the most important decisions you'll make. The right real estate agent can help you with everything from locating the right house to negotiating the price, from finding a mortgage lender to getting the sale closed.
No comments:
Post a Comment