Savvy

You may be planning to sell your home or purchase a new home. Either way, you’re probably searching for a great real estate agent.

Realtor, Real Estate Agent – is there a difference?

There are Realtors� and there are real estate agents. They are not synonymous terms. A real estate agent is licensed to “represent a buyer or a seller in a genuine estate transaction in trade for commission.”Real estate agents typically work for a genuine estate broker or Realtor.

A Realtor also is licensed and could sell real estate as either an agent or a broker. There are completely ethical realtors and Realtor�. The principal difference is a Realtor has made an additional commitment to honor the 17-article code and profession of the true estate business.

The search plus some questions

Looking for a great real estate agent means that you can be asking questions, so let’s start building your list of questions:

Referrals: ask friends and family, colleagues, and relatives for referrals. Most people who have had a positive experience working with an agent will gladly describe their experience and just why they feel their agent was exceptional.

Referrals from professionals: it is certainly appropriate to ask realtors for referrals. Lender representatives, especially mortgage brokers, will tend to be aware of exceptional agents.

. Open houses: likely to open houses is a wonderful, non-threatening way to meet auctions. Focus on the agent’s manners and appearance, his/her professionalism, and the quality of promotional material provided at the open house. Does the agent seem proficient in the property and the neighborhood market? Is the agent ready to explain the home’s features, or does he basically ignore visitors?
Once you have a generally favorable impression of a realtor, be sure to collect a business card and make notes of your observations.

References: intend to interview several agents before deciding and signing a buyer’s agreement. Through the interview, ask each candidate to provide referrals of recent clients and call those referrals.
On the list of questions to ask are what were the asking and selling prices of their properties, and just how long the home was that you can buy?

Take time to research the estate board of licensing services to confirm that the candidate happens to be licensed and whether any complaints or disciplinary actions have been filed against the agent.

Experience: how long gets the agent been in business? You have to be looking for the agent who thoroughly knows the neighborhood market in which you’re selling or planning to buy your home. It takes time and energy to build expertise and market knowledge. One agent recommends that any viable candidate must have at the very least five years’ experience.
May be the agent full- or part-time? You should expect, and ask for, a complete time agent.

Next steps

When evaluating the qualifications of estate agents, look at their websites and current listings. Your future agent ought to be web and technology savvy, using all current media to assist you find your perfect home or sell your present one. The agent should also be able to communicate reliably and regularly using the form(s) of contact you like – fax, phone, text, or e-mail.

Ideally, your prospective agent is busy however, not too busy to effectively represent you. If you feel that the candidate is not focused on giving your sale or purchase full and enthusiastic service, or is prepared to hand you to an “assistant”, move o