Real Estate Agent, How To Find One?

By Author: Asli Mana
Total Articles: 72
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If you're selling a home, you need a licensed real estate agent. It is feasible to sell your home on your own (i.e. For Sale by Owner), but without the proper knowledge of how to sell real estate and the paperwork and procedures involved, you could end up shooting yourself in the foot. Using a real estate agent to sell your home will cut back on headaches and ensure that all appropriate steps are being followed and documentation being completed.

Additionally, many real estate agents manage rentals wherein they introduce tenants to landlords and oversee the maintenance of the property on behalf of the landlords.

In most areas real estate agents are required to be highly educated, licensed and are regulated by a governing body.

Wealthy home buyers require their real estate agents to be equipped with special skills, according to the Coldwell Banker's survey. Given the magnitude of the financial transactions involved in luxury home purchases, 78 % of sales associates said that the top most need their clients require from their real estate agents is privacy and confidentiality. ...
... The luxury customers also want their real estate agents to exercise discretion while dealing with their multi-million dollar transactions. Almost 70 % of respondents polled that their wealthy clients want their real estate professionals to offer customized services while 44 % said that the luxury home buyers want their agents to have good network and work relationship with executive assistants, CPAs and attorneys.

A lot of real estate agents out there may work with both buyers and sellers, although most specialize in working with either the buyer or the seller. If you are buying a home, make sure that the agent you choose has prior experience of working with buyers and transactions that involve no money down. This way, you can count on your agent to be there when you need him the most - especially if you don't have a down payment.

If you are interviewing a real estate agent and he or she isn't familiar with down payment assistance programs, you shouldn't hire their services. Agents who aren't familiar with these types of programs generally aren't on the level, or they may lack the experience necessary to help you purchase the home of your dreams.

If you've never dealt with a real estate agent before, ask your friends and family in the area if they recommend an agent. It's better to go with an agent that comes with a personal recommendation than choosing one blindly. You should also ask your neighbor if they know anyone, especially if your neighbors are new to the area. Asking around will key you in to some of the better real estate agents around and which ones to avoid.

This might seem a bit strange, but if you want to find an agent that knows your area, you should go to open houses in your neighborhood. Even if you don't want to stay in that neighborhood, a local real estate agent is the way to go. Local agents know how much you can get for your home based on your neighborhood and the condition of your home, and can provide you with insight an out-of-area agent can't. So, visit a few local open houses and talk to the agents hosting them. If they aren't able to take on any addition sellers at the moment, they might be able to refer you to a fellow agent that knows the area and can help you get the best price for your home.

Find a real estate agent is an easy task - providing you know what to look for. If you take things one step at a time and carefully make a decision, chances are that you'll end up with an agent who has the experience you want. You should always be careful when you choose, and never rush the process. Real estate agents are easy to find, although finding one who fits your needs and has your budget in mind is a little tougher to locate. When you make that final decision, you should always choose an agent who has your best interest in mind - and isn't just after the money.

Veli Karya is an real estate article writer in Turkey. To see his emlak website (emlak is real estate in Turkish) visit the links.