Choosing and Using an Agent
A real estate agent can be an asset to you when selling your home. They take care of all the aspects of selling for you. They deal with and essentially screen the buyers to get you the best possible deal.
They have more connections with other agents who have buyers that are looking for a home. If time is a factor in selling your home, then a real estate agent can handle many tasks that free you up to get ready for your pending move.
They have knowledge of the real estate market and know how to get your home out there through the networks to get more interested buyers. They take the headaches away from you, so you have more time to spend on other things.
Their expertise in the real estate market, however, comes at a price. Their commission can seem high, and you may not want to give up a piece of your profit pie. Some agents can earn around 3-6%. Some could be more than that, depending on the agent you choose.
However, unless you know how to navigate the For Sale By Owner process, your agent might be able to negotiate a better sale price for your home than you would, which might cover the cost of their commission, and allow you to unload some tasks you’d rather not handle.
Don’t choose a real estate agent based on just a recommendation. Many people have friends in the industry, but that doesn’t mean they work hard for you. Sometimes a real estate brokerage can let you know which of their agents have the best performance rate.
A real estate agent and a Realtor is not the same thing. While both have the responsibility to disclose all of the facts of the process to you, Realtors abide by a Code of Ethics that is unique to them.
Realtors also have access to the Multiple Listing Services (MLS) where they can share listings and access more properties than non-Realtors. You want a Realtor who handles properties of the same value of your house.
Don’t get someone used to selling $100,000 homes if you live in a property valued at 2.5 million. You also want someone whose personality meshes well with your own – an agent who will answer questions and take time to explain things properly to you.
If you do hire an agent, then you want them to perform as many tasks as possible for their commission, such as arranging inspections, knowing which lenders the buyers can approach for their mortgage, and other specifics. Let the agent work for you… that’s the agent’s job!
Interview agents until you find someone you feel will work hard to sell your home and get a good price for it. You want to know their marketing plans, their time availability for showings,
closings, etc.
Find out what their level of experience is. Have they sold many homes in the last year? Are they just a part-time agent who dabbles in the market from time to time? You want someone dedicated to the industry.
See you tomorrow.
Looking to buy or sell a home in the Dallas/Fort Worth areas? Professional real estate agent Patricia Young specializes in helping buyers and sellers invest in real estate in Denton County and in surrounding neighborhood."This "client first" philosophy has always been her approach and it requires them to continually improve their skills and ways of doing business.So when you decide that you'd like to buy or sell a home in the Dallas/Fort Worth areas, please contact us.
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