At Last! A Free Website With
Helpful Real Estate Tips...
So You Can Quickly And Easily
Buy Or Sell A Home
Let's
face it - buying or selling a home is the biggest investment
most people will ever make. This is true; regardless of whether
you buy or sell through a real estate agent, or buy and sell
a home for sale by owner - FSBO.
Important:
Please understand, we are not here to promote real estate
agents (or to knock them). We just want you to be well informed
when you buy or sell a home either through a real estate agent
or doing it yourself FSBO.
A quick summary
of buying/selling methods:
1.
FSBO (For Sale By Owner)
Buying and selling a home FSBO is becoming more popular, but
it's not for everyone. There are advantages and disadvantages
of buying or selling FSBO. Useful reading...
2. Real Estate Agents, Brokers And MLS (Multiple Listing Services)
Buying and selling a home using the services of a Real Estate
Agent, Broker or Multiple Listing Service is the method used
by most people when they buy or sell. Again, there are advantages
and disadvantages that you need to be aware of. Useful
reading...
15 Questions To Help You
Choose A Good Real Estate Agent
If
you do decide to use the services of a real estate agent,
then it is important that you choose the right one to work
with. Afterall, the real estate agent is usually the key to
a successful transaction.
However,
when you buy or sell a home it can be especially difficult
when dealing with an incompetent or disloyal real estate agent.
Fortunately, most real estate agents do an excellent or reasonably
good job.
Then,
there is that worrying small percentage of real estate agents
who are downright incompetent. Almost every industry suffers
this type of person, so it is important to avoid a bad agent
if you are about to buy or sell a home.
To help select a good agent, there are several key issues
you should discuss with the real estate agent. Treat the process
like a job interview - do you want this person to work for
you in buying or selling, what could be, your biggest asset?
Interview several agents before picking the one you want to
work with to buy or sell a home.
Real
Estate Tip: A
good and a bad real estate agent have one thing in common
– their job is to be a “deal-maker.” So,
you need to be confident in your own mind, that the agent
has the ability and skills required to successfully make the
deal happen and achieve an outcome that you are happy with.
But,
be warned - some real estate agents will perform all sorts
of tricks to stitch up a deal. This is fine so long as they
are not “stitching up” the buyer or the seller.
There’s nothing wrong with enthusiasm to pull a deal
together - it is to be applauded. However, a good real
estate agent needs to remain professional and ethical at all
times throughout the home selling process.
Before you buy or sell a home, or select
an agent, find out the answers to these questions:
1. How
long has the real estate agent been involved in the real estate
industry?
Real
Estate Tip:
This question is not intended to disavantage a new agent,
as time spent in the industry is not necessarily the most
important factor. However, it may demonstrate the agent's
level of experience or field of experience. That's not to
say that a new agent wouldn't do a better job - and that's
why you need to ask several other questions too.
2. Can
the real estate agent supply testimonials from satisfied clients?
Real
Estate Tip:
It would be reassuring to be able to contact the last three
or four home sellers that the agent represented. Although,
it is not always possible to get the names, addresses and
phone numbers of the most recent clients, a lot of real estate
agents will be able to put you in touch with some former clients.
The real estate agent might even include this information
in his or her listing presentation.
The
important thing is to follow-up on these clients and ask if
they were in anyway unhappy with service and would they list
their home for sale with the same agent again. If they wouldn't
- ask why? Listen carefully to the answers and be alert for
any hesitation or vague answers.
3. Does
the real estate agent offer any form of guarantee?
Real
Estate Tip:
The real estate agent might be extremely positive and confident
of selling your home, but will he or she offer any form of
guarantee? You might want some reassurance on the amount of
effort that will be put in, or the amount of advertising,
or you may want the opportunity to cancel the listing if you're
not happy with the progress.
It
is all very well hearing about what the agent plans to do
and achieve. But, things don't always go to plan and promises
are not always kept. It pays to know in advance, what recourse
you have if the real estate agent makes a mistake or fails
to deliver on promises. Discuss how your relationship with
the agent can be improved or terminated if things don't work
out.
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