If you have decided to list your house, you will be paying a house agent a hefty sum of money to do the challenging job of selling your house. So, you have the right to anticipate quick help, excellent service, and security. Here are eight hints for finding a good real estate agent:
1) For your security, you want an experienced real estate broker to play as a buffer zone between you and people you don’t know, and to protect you from law suits that might result from your lack of experience relating to contract and real estate law.
2) You don’t want your real estate broker to be too occupied, but you do want your real estate broker to be relatively successful, because it demonstrates that he lists houses at the appropriate price and come through in making those houses sold.
3) You want your agent to offer assurances that he will show your house on a regular basis, that he provides proper signage, MLS coverage, and will produce a great sales flyer to pass out to prospective buyers and to other agents.
4) Don’t engage yourself into long-range property listings. Depending on the market, eight weeks may be long enough to show what a broker can do for you. It also allows you to withdraw from your agreement if you are not happy with your real estate agent for any reason at all.
5) Make certain there are not any hidden fees in your listing or sales contracts. For example, some agencies have a "quick sale fee," usually as much as $1,000, if your home sells quick. Ensure all of the real estate costs are explained, in detail, at the very beginning.
6) You can try to negotiate a lower commission, if that is important to you, which might be the case in a fast-moving market, where a broker might not need to do anything to sell your house other than putting a signage in your front yard and listing your property with the Multiple Listing Service or MLS.
7) Be on guard if an agent tries to force you into agreeing to pay more than your fair share of the costs of closing, in order to lure buyers. The listing broker works for you, and her primary concern has to be to net you as much profit as attainable.
Naturally, you also will want your broker to be winsome. You may like him in person, but it’s also worthwhile to phone the agent at the office, to see how he sounds on the phone. If the agent sounds professional and affable to you, he’ll probably impress prospective buyers that way, too. Make certain your broker has a cellular phone too to allow both you and prospective purchasers to get in touch with them quick and easily.
Choosing a listing agent is important if you wish to list your home for the correct price and sell it in as short a time as possible. Do your homework, meet with different real estate brokers, and select wisely.