|
Whether you’re selling your current home, a
first-time home buyer, or relocating to a
different part of the country, the support of
a qualified, knowledgeable real estate agent
can alleviate a lot of your concerns and help
ensure a smooth real estate transaction.
A professional real estate agent can market your present home, help you find and purchase the home of your dreams, and help make your transfer to an unfamiliar area easier.
To find a trained and experienced real estate sales associate or broker, you probably need to look no further than your very own neighborhood or home town.
If a well-established real estate brokerage is involved in many home listings and sales, this is a very good sign. Talk to some of the agent’s past customers, asking about the quality and integrity of the service and performance.
Since successful real estate agents rely heavily on referrals from satisfied customers, they will strive to provide the very best in customer service and satisfaction.
Set up appointments to “interview” a few agents and brokers much like an employer world interview a job candidate. Ask about their professional training, marketing programs, and specific service policies.
Find out how many years of experience the agents have, the number of listings they have had, and the number of homes they have sold within the past few years. More importantly, find out how well they know the area. Ask for references, and check them out.
Your primary goal is to determine just how knowledgeable and experienced the prospective real estate agents are. Question them about available financing, closing costs, and local market conditions (depending on whether you’re a prospective home buyer or seller) to determine their level of expertise. If they really know their stuff, they should be able to answer your questions easily and accurately.
If you’re selling your home, find out what they will do if you decide to list your home with them. How will they market your home? Will they provide you with an accurate market analysis to assist you with determining the most effective listing price for your home? Will they give you regular progress reports and help with negotiations once you’ve received offers?
If you are relocating, is your real estate agent affiliated with a national relocation service that will not only market your present home to incoming transferees, but help you search for a new house?
Request a written guarantee that everything promised by the real estate agent will be delivered. CENTURY 21®, for example, backs its listings with its valuable "CENTURY 21 Seller Service Pledge".
This 11-point written commitment covers everything from providing the seller with a detailed marketing plan to monitoring all pre-settlement activities throughout the closing process. It also gives the seller the right to end the listing if the pledge isn't fulfilled.
Conclusion: A capable real estate agent will be able to answer all of your questions and provide you with professional, quality service that is responsible and courteous. Finding the right agent or broker may take time and patience, buy when you're buying or selling a home, the selection of a dependable agent must be your top priority.
About the author:
W. Troy Swezey is a Realtor at Century 21 Paul & Associates, and he has helped
many individuals with their real estate needs.
More Interesting Articles
|