Selecting a real estate agent can be difficult. After all, there are so many realtors out there competing for our business. However, the right real estate agent can make all the difference when it comes to buying or selling a home. Here are a few questions that you should ask your potential realtor before signing a contract.
First of all, ask about experience and qualifications. Certainly a realtor who has been working for 25 years might not be any better than a realtor with just a few years of experience, but it gives you some idea about their level of experience. Your realtor also might hold special designations such as GRI or ePro or CRS, and all of these initials mean that your realtor has attained a higher level of training beyond the basic amount needed to become a licensed real estate agent. There are many other special designations, and your realtor probably will be happy to share what he or she has earned beyond the basic requirements.
While experience counts, results are what really matters, so make sure your realtor has a solid track record. Ask your real estate agent to tell you how many homes he or she has listed and also sold in the last six or eight months. It's also wise to ask about the final sales prices, especially if your realtor seems to have closed a large amount of deals in the last few months. While it might be a sign of a fantastic realtor, it also might mean that your agent tends to put in lowball prices in order to ensure fast sales. Be sure that your realtor also has a good amount of experience in selling homes in your area and in your price range.
Realtors understand that selling a home is nerve-wracking, and your agent will do their best to make it all go as smoothly as possible. Ask about the overall plan to sell your home. This includes setting a reasonable listing price based on the other homes on the market or recently sold in your area and in your price range. This also includes cleaning up your home, eliminating clutter, making a few cosmetic changes and staging it up to appeal to buyers. Open houses also are usually part of the plan, but a good realtor won't depend on a myriad of open house dates to sell a house.
Obviously, a person who is buying a house but not selling one at the same time, probably will have an easier time. Before you start looking at houses, set a budget and get qualified by a loan specialist so that you are ready to head into escrow once you've found a home you love. Your realtor will need to know about your pre-qualifications as well as your overall budget. He or she also needs to know what you want in this new home, so bring along a comprehensive list. There are probably a few items that you absolutely must have, such as a great backyard, a certain number of bathrooms or bedrooms or perhaps a home in specific area. Be sure to also include items that you absolutely do not want so your realtor gets a very good idea about what you need and like.
If you are in the market for Livermore real estate, Pleasanton real estate, San Ramon real estate or Dublin real estate, contact the real estate experts at 1stInSite.com. They specialize in helping you buy or sell homes in Alameda County and Contra Costa County. They can help you through the entire process, making it easy for you to find the perfect family home.
First of all, ask about experience and qualifications. Certainly a realtor who has been working for 25 years might not be any better than a realtor with just a few years of experience, but it gives you some idea about their level of experience. Your realtor also might hold special designations such as GRI or ePro or CRS, and all of these initials mean that your realtor has attained a higher level of training beyond the basic amount needed to become a licensed real estate agent. There are many other special designations, and your realtor probably will be happy to share what he or she has earned beyond the basic requirements.
While experience counts, results are what really matters, so make sure your realtor has a solid track record. Ask your real estate agent to tell you how many homes he or she has listed and also sold in the last six or eight months. It's also wise to ask about the final sales prices, especially if your realtor seems to have closed a large amount of deals in the last few months. While it might be a sign of a fantastic realtor, it also might mean that your agent tends to put in lowball prices in order to ensure fast sales. Be sure that your realtor also has a good amount of experience in selling homes in your area and in your price range.
Realtors understand that selling a home is nerve-wracking, and your agent will do their best to make it all go as smoothly as possible. Ask about the overall plan to sell your home. This includes setting a reasonable listing price based on the other homes on the market or recently sold in your area and in your price range. This also includes cleaning up your home, eliminating clutter, making a few cosmetic changes and staging it up to appeal to buyers. Open houses also are usually part of the plan, but a good realtor won't depend on a myriad of open house dates to sell a house.
Obviously, a person who is buying a house but not selling one at the same time, probably will have an easier time. Before you start looking at houses, set a budget and get qualified by a loan specialist so that you are ready to head into escrow once you've found a home you love. Your realtor will need to know about your pre-qualifications as well as your overall budget. He or she also needs to know what you want in this new home, so bring along a comprehensive list. There are probably a few items that you absolutely must have, such as a great backyard, a certain number of bathrooms or bedrooms or perhaps a home in specific area. Be sure to also include items that you absolutely do not want so your realtor gets a very good idea about what you need and like.
If you are in the market for Livermore real estate, Pleasanton real estate, San Ramon real estate or Dublin real estate, contact the real estate experts at 1stInSite.com. They specialize in helping you buy or sell homes in Alameda County and Contra Costa County. They can help you through the entire process, making it easy for you to find the perfect family home.
About the Author:
Madeleine Glazier loves blogging about the real estate industry. If you are searching for licensed real estate Pleasanton CA agents, or to find San Ramon CA real estate agents, please go to the 1stInsite website today.
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