Let's be honest; whether or not you are buying or selling a home, it is going to be one of the biggest financial transactions which you'll undertake in your life. Given the importance of striking a good deal, it's unquestionably essential for you to find the best possible real estate agent to safeguard your interests and handle your case in the transaction. It is not enough for you simply to have a list of the best questions to ask. You ought to also know what answers you would like to hear, because this is how you will make up your mind.
Initially you really should find out just how long he or she has been in the business. Experience is essential and pertinent experience is even more important. This is not to suggest that you should have some boring, old agent to represent you. Five years experience will make all of the difference when it comes to identifying possible troubles or knowing the way to handle a hard transaction.
Ask for an typical list to sale ratio, since this will help you to see how successful the realtor has been in actually closing and concluding transactions. If you're employing a listing agent, anticipate seeing a ratio of greater than 95%. If you are hiring a buyer's agent, seek out better than 90%, specifically in a difficult market.
The strategies the realtor would follow is important. As a buyer, you'd expect to examine between 5 and 7 houses each day. What's more, to save you time, the realtor should preview the houses to make sure that every home you see fulfills your individual specs. You really should also make certain that he or she does not represent any rival buyers for the same property. As a seller, you'd expect to see concrete marketing plans that may include brochures, posters, flyers and e-mail.
Ask for and have a look at a minimum of three references. If possible, speak to these individuals to get a handle on how the real estate agent dealt with specific transactions and how their requirements were met. Discover the thing that makes this specific realtor different from the others and suited to your preferences. A strong record of pleased repeat customers, remarkable negotiation skills and on-line marketing skills are all satisfactory answers.
The majority of real estate professionals build a network of affiliations with time to handle all the aspects of a real estate transaction. Find out how you can take advantage of these associations. For example, can the agent guarantee that the fees incurred by the title company are competitive? If the realtor is receiving compensation for the referral, it is possible that he may not be acting totally in your interest.
