Are you looking for a reputable real estate agent?
With more real estate agents than houses for sale in the country, you have a surplus of options. To find the best real estate agent around, it’s best to find certain desirable qualities. They’re easy to determine when you interview your potential agent.
In this guide, you’ll learn some of the best questions to ask your potential agent. These will help you find the best one in your local real estate market.
1. Are You a Full-Time Agent?
Part-time agents are common because of the inconsistent commissions. It holds, despite lucrative profits. However, these people aren’t ideal for your purposes.
If you work with a professional working on another career, it risks your home buying or selling process. It’s the same when they’re in semi-retirement. The worst part is that the inherent risks are often unnecessary.
Ensure that the agent is working full-time. It allows them to easily respond to your needs without disruptions. Otherwise, you’ll end up tailoring your activities around their schedule instead.
In most cases, the agent’s speed and availability are vital, especially during negotiations. To get more desirable qualities, check out themurogroupre.com.
2. Are You Working With Buyers or Sellers?
Most agents do both since they take any client they can accommodate. They like to represent both since they can get more profit. For example, they won’t split the commission if they can match a buyer with their listing.
However, that benefit won’t extend to you. It often causes conflict since they have a fiduciary duty to you and the other party. As a buyer, it’s best if the agent presents all your options.
As a seller, your agent must market your home to every potential buyer.
Another factor to consider is the unique skills for buying and selling. Most people don’t know the difference between listing agents and buyer agents. Even when they can do both, they’re unlikely to have experience in both. You can consider Dorrmat Agents, they provide you cash for homes services when you want to have a quick sale.
3. Do You Have Referrals From Past Clients?
Any experienced agent in the field must have a list of clients they can refer to you. Get in touch with these referrals to better understand the agent’s capabilities. It allows you to know their strengths and weaknesses. A high qualified real estate agent would have some reviews for you to look at!
Before contacting your shortlist, check their online reviews. It gives a more unfiltered perspective of the agent’s personality. That way, you’ll determine whether most of their clients feel satisfied with their service.
4. How Much Do You Charge?
If you’re a home seller, you’ll pay the fee for both the buyer and listing agent. It’s why you must know how much they charge beforehand. When using traditional real estate brokerage for selling your home, the typical rate is 6% of the price of your home.
It means each agent takes 3% each. A $500,000 home means subtracting $30,000 for agent fees. It’s a sizable dent in your total profits.
It’s better to negotiate with your agent to bring the price down. After all, the fee is often too expensive and sometimes unwarranted. If you negotiate even a 0.5% reduction, it means saving thousands of dollars.
You’ll have other choices, depending on your location. They include flat-fee brokerages and discounts. However, the latter could mean receiving fewer services.
Do your best to find agents that charge flat fees for a full service. If possible, get an agency with modern technology and salaried agents. It ensures your real estate activities are cheaper.
5. Are You Working With a Team?
Often, established agents will work with a team of experts. It’s a great benefit for you because of their meticulousness. They’re unlikely to overlook details, ensuring you’ll get the best deals for your home.
Working with a team means timely communications. After all, even if the specific agent has other tasks, another will take their place. Before jumping into this arrangement, understand the people you’ll work with.
6. How Long Have You Been an Agent?
As mentioned above, millions of real estate agents work in the United States. They have varying depths of experience and expertise. It’s why you must ask this question before working with an agent.
It allows you to determine whether you can work with a beginner. It’s an important consideration since selling or buying a home is one of the biggest financial transactions around.
If it’s your first time, you’re unlikely to have expectations about the process. The agent’s training background determines the success of your negotiations and property evaluation. While some beginners have talent, they’re the exceptions.
Always opt for an experienced agent. It allows you to point out various problems you likely overlooked before. They’ll protect your interests as you trudge through the real estate process.
7. What Are Your Certifications?
A great agent will always keep themselves updated. It means they’re always on top of tax and zoning law changes. It’s invaluable because these laws will affect your buying or selling process.
As part of your agent’s education, they must have the necessary certifications. These are some credentials to look out for.
Realtor®
Having this credential means they’re a member of the National Association of Realtors. This is a requirement because only licensed realtors can handle and complete a transaction.
CRS
CRS stands for Certified Residential Specialists. It’s a prestigious credential since it’s exclusive to top-performing agents.
ABR®
An Accredited Buyer Representative certification means the person completed the necessary training to represent buyers in transactions. They speak to realtors on behalf of buyers.
SRS
These are agents who are the seller counterpart of ABRs. It means they completed the necessary training to represent sellers.
SRES®
Seniors Real Estate Specialists represent both buyers and sellers over the age of 50. Their training allows them to deal with elders and ensure they get the best possible deal. It also prevents them from falling for scams.
These certifications are the bare minimum. The more credentials, the more legitimate the agent is.
Work With a Real Estate Agent Now
These are some of the best questions to ask a real estate agent. Use them when you plan to hire a real estate agent for your home.
Are you looking for more ways to find a real estate agent? Read our other posts and learn more today!
