Working With An Agent Category

Good communication will enable you to get the best service from the real estate agent who is helping you to buy or sell a home. If you have any concerns, make them known not just to your spouse, your mother and your co-workers, but to the person who can do something about it–your agent!

Real estate sales are extremely complex transactions which involve negotiating large sums of money and turning over the largest single asset most individuals will ever own. Since the possibilities for misunderstandings are great, professional real estate agents work hard to ensure that the transaction will go smoothly. This requires clear communication between the buyers and the sellers and other agents.

Most of the breakdowns in real estate transactions result from vague or inadequate communication prior to the signing of the contract. Express any concerns that you may have and ask about anything you don’t understand–the only foolish question is the one that isn’t asked!

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As soon as the listing agreement is signed, your real estate agent will begin the search for a buyer for your home. This means directing agents marketing efforts to target groups of individuals who are likely to be attracted to the amenities offered by your home and neighborhood.

If your property is near a new office park, your real estate agent will look there for prospects who want to live near their work place. If it is an historic property, the local preservation society may have a publication in which to advertise. Your agent may call or write to the neighbors who may know someone who would be attracted to your home. When your home is being marketed professionally, your agent will do a lot more than just feed the listing into the MLS and place an occasional ad.

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Real estate transactions are complicated and unpredictable. Professional real estate agents are trained to handle the many facets of buying a home. A good agent is an invaluable asset to your venture if you are in the market for a house.

When you find a real estate agent with whom you feel confident, it is good to enter into a committed working relationship with that person. Concentrating your search with one agent will allow that agent to become truly familiar with your needs, desires, and financial capacities.

Maintaining loyalty to the real estate agent of your choice will bear you more fruit than scattering your attention among several agents. An agent who feels your commitment will devote his or her entire energy to finding the right home for you.

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Some things are hard to measure, and others are easy. Success in a real estate sale is easy. It occurs when the “SOLD” sign is in your front yard. And having that occur as quickly as possible is the goal of every real estate agent and every home seller.

You have undoubtedly heard that old saying about the “hard way” and the “easy way” to do something. The hard way to get the “SOLD” sign up is to try and sell it yourself. The easy way is to use the services of a real estate sales professional, someone who is not only trained to get it sold, but to get as much for your home as the market will bear.

Remember, the agent doesn’t get paid until your home is “SOLD”. And the amount they earn in commission is dependent upon the amount of the sale. That’s a lot of genuine motivation to do the job right. Save yourself headaches and frustration when you are ready to sell–call a professional real estate agent.

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Negotiating the sale or purchase of a home is a highly creative endeavor that can be stressful at times. Even though the process is not usually an adversarial one, there are issues which may require a compromise from each party, such as the price, the date of possession, and the condition of the property at closing.

It helps to know why people are relocating. If a home is part of an estate, for example, it may evoke childhood memories and intense emotions for the person who is overseeing the sale. If the sellers are in the middle of a divorce, their mood will be different than someone who has just won the lottery and is moving to their dream home. Buyers who have been transferred and have to leave their dream home behind will feel differently from someone who feels that your home is their “ideal”. One of a real estate agent’s most important jobs is managing all of the relationships in the transaction. These situations don’t often get really difficult, but when they do, we don’t take it personally.

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Although your real estate agent is responsible for marketing your property, it requires a joint effort to get your home sold.

How can you empower your agent? It is very important that you feel absolutely confident in your agent’s ability to produce results–no matter what the market is like in your area! This may sound like stating the obvious, but it is important to let your real estate agent know you trust them to get the job done. Support that trust by putting a realistic price tag on the property and keeping it in prime showing condition. Work out showing agreements that will make it easy for agents to preview or show your home. Meet periodically to discuss any feedback from buyers who have seen your home to determine how you can improve its appeal.

Don’t hesitate to share any ideas you may have about marketing your home. I will try anything that works, and have received some very good suggestions from clients.

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When you get serious about selling your home, the chances of your selling it quickly for top dollar will improve considerably if you list it with a real estate sales professional. If you doubt this, consider the fact that eight out of ten homes sold today–more in some markets–are listed with a professional real estate agent.

Listing your home places it on the local Multiple Listing Service that is subscribed to by a majority of real estate sales professionals. Through the MLS listing, your home is assured of getting the widest possible exposure to the market place.

Some buyers shop the home market on their own, but most save time and money by using the services of a real estate sales professional. Ask yourself which homes the real estate agent is going to show the prospective buyers–homes listed on the MLS or those that are not?

If you still want to try to sell your own home, be aware that you will face stiff competition when it comes to attracting qualified buyers!

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Timing can sometimes be difficult if you have to sell a home before you can buy another one. Most people need the equity from the sale of their first home for the down payment on the new house. If your present home goes on the market first, you may be concerned that it will sell before you find the one you want to buy. On the other hand, if you find the perfect home before your present home is under contract, the sellers may be reluctant to accept your offer, and you may be too nervous to sign a contract.

It is a good idea to sit down with a good real estate agent for some professional advice before you begin your search. It will probably be necessary to be flexible on the closing date, because it can be easier to find a home that you want to buy than to sell your present home. After finding the house you want, you can ask the lender about arranging a short-term bridge loan that can make the purchase possible before you sell your current residence.

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Finding the right real estate agent to help you in your search is the important first step to take when you are ready to buy a new home. Some people feel it is better to use someone you don’t know–I can’t agree with this thought because someone you know will usually go above and beyond the call of duty and have you as top priority at all times.

Knowledge, professionalism and experience are the important factors to consider when selecting a real estate agent. You should also look for someone who listens carefully to what you want in a new home and who knows the market well enough to find the right house for you within a reasonable period of time. Be comfortable with the person you choose. If you feel like the real estate agent is sensitive to your needs and desires, you will feel confident working with that person.

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A real estate agent’s job is to sell your home for the best price, in the shortest time. Another important part of the agent’s responsibility is to make the sales process as easy as possible for you, the seller. Your real estate agent can eliminate much of the hassle involved in selling your home, while providing you and your family with the “peace of mind” you need during this sensitive time. Your agent can help you avoid the inconvenience of having buyers stop by unannounced to see your home or your wasting time with those who are not financially qualified to buy your home.

When you list your home with a sales professional, you get an array of valuable services, including the widest possible exposure through Multiple Listing Service. This is the best vehicle to get the most qualified buyers to see your home.

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