How to hire a real estate agent to buy or sell a home
How to hire a real estate agent to buy or sell a home
Written by Nicole Boynton Thursday, 03 July 2008
Using the T.R.U.S.T. method
T-Trust
Your real estate agent should have integrity, strength of character and the ability to do the job. Ask people you know and trust to recommend an agent. It stands to reason that if your friends or family have had a good experience with an agent, then that agent will work well with you.
R-Realtor vs. Real Estate Agent
Do you know if your agent is a Realtor? Not all real estate agents are Realtors, who are members of the National Association of Realtors, which includes a mandated Code of Ethics. Realtors hold themselves to a higher standard in adherence with the Code of Ethics and, in turn, your home sale receives a higher grade of service. For ease of reading, we will use the term agent in this article.
U-Use your Instincts
The most basic way to determine success with your agent should always include relying on your instinct. If you like everything he says in the interview, but something does not feel right, then you need to believe your gut. You may wish to interview several agents until you find one that seems to fit you best. You need to feel 100 percent comfortable with your agent. Discussing your expectations up front will save many wrong turns later.
S-Specialties
When beginning the search to buy a home, determine your priorities in a buyer agent. You may want to contact the local real estate firms and ask if they have anyone who specializes in your needs, such as specific geographic location or price range. Most agents will have information on their website that denotes their area of specialty. Drive through the area in which you wish to locate and find For Sale signs of agents already selling in that area. If you are thinking of buying a new home from a builder, make sure you have an agent to represent you in that transaction. An agent who specializes in new homes knows how to uncover unadvertised incentives, price reductions, provide reasoning for purchasing an inventory home versus building from scratch and can help you determine which builders offer the features and locations you desire.
T-Time for You
You want someone representing you that can communicate in whatever manner and however often you deem acceptable. Make sure your agent has time for you and your home because he may have multiple clients and multiple deals, but you are only selling or buying this one house. Do you prefer updates via a phone call, an e-mail or an instant message? How would you feel if your agent called every day versus once a week? These are questions you should think about prior to meeting with an agent. Make sure you know what you expect from your agent so you can convey it clearly to them.
Nicole Boynton is a local Realtor with Coldwell Banker United, RealTors. Contact her at Buy-Home (289-4663) or Nicole@512buyhome.com or visit www.512BuyHome.com.
Questions to ask before hiring your real estate agent
- How many homes did she sell last year?
- How many listings/clients does she have right now?
- What is her list to sold price ratio? (selling agent’s only)
- What is her average time on the market? (selling agent’s only)
- What is her marketing forte? (selling agent’s only)
- Does she have a team of 75 people or will you always deal directly with her?
- Is she a full-time agent or does she have a “day job?”
- How many homes has she sold in that area?
- What does her previous clients say about her?
- What technology does she use to help buyers find your home or help you find a home to buy?
To view the National Association of Realtor Code of Ethics, go to www.REALTOR.org. For further information on Realtors and real estate, visit the websites of the Williamson County Association of Realtors (www.wcaor.org) and the Austin Board of Realtors (www.abor.com.)
Find a link to the following:
• How to fire your real estate agent
1 Comments 
July 29, 2008
Votes: +1