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Referrals
are always a good way to go. Perhaps a friend, co-worker, or family member
recently bought a house in the same community and had a good experience
with a Realtor. However, if they bought a house twenty miles from where
you want to move, it may not be a good idea to use the same Realtor, so
take this into consideration - some Realtors have specialty areas.
Some Real Estate Agents know certain areas extremely well. If
so, they have already previewed many of the homes available for sale in
that community and know certain areas of that community which may be much
better suited for your needs.
Look for Realtors who explain their services and their
effectiveness properly, not just who list a large number of properties.
Listings are of course important, but a good realtor is expected to have
access to a wide range of listings. Look to see if their web site offers
something to you in the way of information or other services instead of
just telling you they are the best. You want someone of value to represent
you.
Interview Realtors before hiring them. An excellent way of
preparing yourself for an interview is to ask professionals in the
real-estate industry about their opinion and what would they look for in
an agent.
Try to measure the knowledge of the agent during the interview.
There are many agents who would say that they would have to get back to
you for information on houses for sale, while there are others who
demonstrate ready knowledge of homes available. You should definitely look
to hire the latter.
Look for an agent who shows interest in your requirements by asking
you questions. Agents should be straightforward and not the ones who
always tell you what you want to hear.
You can use more than one agent if possible. Agents will often
pressure you to work exclusively with them, but there's nothing to stop
you from seeing homes with more than one agent. Checking in with a few of
the best salespeople in each area is a good way to keep your finger on the
pulse of the market. Many times an aggressive agent will show you a home
before it appears on the multiple-listing service.
Ensure that the agent has done their homework. Ask your agent for
information that illustrates current market prices in the area where you
are searching. Also, ask about any zoning skirmishes that may affect home
values in the future. If an agent balks at these requests, find another,
who is better informed and better prepared.
Finally, no matter what the agent tells you, you should understand
that you are not obligated to buy a home through the agent you hire. If
for any reason, you do not feel comfortable after a period of time, simply
let your agent know this and let them know you would like to use another
Realtor.
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