Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent

by Bryan

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Posted on 02-12-2020 05:01 PM

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Evans, blanche. "classified intelligence, realty times partner on realtor advertising survey. " realty times. August 30, 2006. (july 25, 2008) http://realtytimes. Com/rtpages/20060830_advertisingsurvey. Htm fletcher, june. "negotiating real-estate agent's commission. " the wall street journal, dec. 6, 2010. (jan. 4, 2011). Http://online. Wsj. Com/article/sb10001424052748703989004575652630596788508. Html geffner, marcie. "the seller listing agreement: what's it all about?" gift for realtor realtor gifts for buyers gifts for realtor . Com. 2000. (july 25, 2008) http://www. Realtor. Com/basics/sell/listadvert/agreement. Asp.

As a real estate agent myself, i know that sometimes the easiest path to selling a home is to put a client in the car, show them dozens of homes, and then figure out — by trial and error — exactly what kind of house they are looking for. But ashley bedard, broker at re/max regal in san marcos, ca, says she requires her agents to meet with potential buyers for a one-hour interview before setting out to see homes. Although some potential clients balk at the idea of an in-depth information exchange, bedard says this meeting is crucial to a successful house hunt and can save lots of headaches in the long run.

Buying real estate is exciting and terrifying, all at the same time. There are many steps to the home buying process and each step creates a new set of questions. Knowing the answers to the 10 most common home buying questions can alleviate some of the stress that comes with buying real estate. This article was designed to help you understand the basics of purchasing real estate, in simple steps. Buying a home may seem intimidating, but a good realtor ® will make it much easier. They will take care of you through each step of the process, and make your experience as smooth as possible.

What you need and want in a real estate agent will depend largely on your real estate experience. If you’ve sold homes before, chances are you know the process, have strong opinions about how to price your home, and want an agent who’ll be more partner than mentor. If you’re new to the process, a mentor/adviser/guide is probably just what you crave.

Do you work as an agent full-time? you don’t want someone doing this as a hobby. Ask which mls the realtor belongs to. How long have you been in residential real estate sales? there’s no right or wrong to this question, but a good guideline is to select an agent with at least five years of experience selling in your area.

If you are in the real estate business—or have been on the market yourself—you know that the internet is full of countless blogs offering buyers tips on interviewing and selecting a real estate agent or broker. But as an agent whose livelihood depends on commission, it is equally important for you to find the perfect buyer.

Commercial real estate can be a great investment, but if you buy the wrong property, it can easily turn into a disaster. Before purchasing any commercial real estate, you should check it out thoroughly. Asking the following five questions will ensure that you make a wise investment.

24 Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent Worth Their Salt

Yup—you’re going to want to do an interview when trying find a good real estate agent. In fact, you’ll want to talk to a few of them. Does it take a time to come up with a bunch of questions to ask a real estate agent? sure. Is it worth it when you find an agent you can trust, who really gets you, and you feel confident is going to help you find the right house at the best price? you bet.

Questions for After You’ve Chosen a Real Estate Agent

When it comes to buying or selling a home, having an experienced, high-quality real estate agent can be the difference between finding or selling your home quickly at the best possible price and months of wasted efforts. Unfortunately, not all agents are considered equal, nor are they the right fit for all buyers or sellers. Who you are as a buyer or seller will dictate what you need out of a realtor gift to buyer appropriate gift for realtor realtor housewarming gifts , and in turn, what questions to ask your prospective agent before signing a contract.

Whether you’re planning to buy or sell a house, choosing the right real estate agent can make a world of difference. But sorting the wheat from the chaff can be tricky, especially if you’re relatively new to the world of dealing with real estate agents. If you’re wondering how to choose a real estate agent to buy or sell a home, it all starts with asking the right questions.

Finding the right real estate agent can be tough, especially as a first-time homebuyer. After all, if you’re unsure of the process in the first place, how are you supposed to ask the right questions? how do you know if they’re the right “fit”? we’ve already provided you our 6 tips for choosing a real estate agent. Now, we want to take it a step further. Below we’ve drafted some best practices (and sample questions!) that should help you better identify who you’d like to work with.

Information from an experienced investment agent can reveal hidden risk and help you make the best decision when investing in real estate. That is, if you know which questions to ask. Discover the key questions you should be asking your agent, especially if you’re a beginner investor. Your real estate agent has a lot of knowledge at their fingertips and experience to draw on when guiding your investment decisions. Don’t let this gold mine go untapped. Instead, ask your agent targeted questions that can help you make better decisions.

As a real estate agent, working with buyers can be a rewarding and exciting process. Helping a buyer purchase a home can be one of the most enjoyable processes in real estate. However, it can also come with hurdles. With a real estate buyer questionnaire in hand, you can set yourself up for success during the buyer consultation interview and take many of the pain points out of the buying process. What are the best questions to ask a buyer when you are meeting them? let’s find out!.

When perusing the listings of homes for sale, it may seem easiest to just contact the first real estate agent who pops up or whose name appears in the mailer you received. But the truth is, real estate agents have widely varying styles, strengths, and fee structures. You can save money by doing a little digging before hiring a salesperson to represent you. By asking the following questions, some of which pertain to sellers as well, you'll get a better sense of whether the agent is a good fit for you.

When it comes to selling a home, a little groundwork goes a long way. While some real estate agents rush their clients through dozens of houses, seasoned professionals recognize the importance of preemptive information exchange before showing homes. If you’re focused on establishing trust and eliminating waste, learn eight critical questions you should ask before showing a home.

Time to Start Asking Questions, Better Find a Good Agent

If you’re a first-time homebuyer, you may be wondering how to start the process. After browsing homes online, the next step for homebuyers is often choosing a realtor. But how do you find the best ones out of all the available choices? housingwire has you covered. We asked one of the top five agents in atlanta, matt hermes, and happy grasshopper co-founder dan stewart for their best advice and distilled that into these five questions to ask your real estate agent:.

6. Have You Sold Homes in This Price Range?

Understanding the current local market will help you determine if a seller’s asking price is on target — or way too high. Your realtor can pull the comparable listing data for similar homes that are currently on the market and have sold in the last six months or so as a basis for comparison.

Bid smartly. Ask your real estate agent for prices of comparable homes in the area that have recently sold, and use those figures to determine your initial offer. Start a tad lower than those figures. Make clear demands. Be upfront about extras, such as curtains, light fixtures, or appliances, that you want included with the house.

If a large percentage of buyers all answer it’s too high, take note. But some buyers look at homes out of their price range, so don’t make any rash decisions if only a few voice concern.

To see if the home is fairly priced, your agent will compare the sale price with that of similar homes that have recently sold in the area. They’ll have a good sense of whether or not the home is overpriced, or if the seller might have priced it really low on purpose to create bidding wars.

Every real estate agent should be able to give you a comparative market analysis (cma), which is a listing of homes currently for sale and recently sold in the area. This is your starting point for knowing how your home measures up to others that are selling in the neighbourhood and, most importantly, at what price you should list your house.

7. How Long Have You Been a Real Estate Agent?

1. What is your experience and education? though a new real estate agent can certainly be motivated and eager to please, a pro with years of experience will have the knowledge and skill to face unexpected challenges. Taking continuing education courses shows a commitment to keeping up with changes. 2. Is this your full-time job? having another job shouldn’t necessarily cut a potential real estate agent out of the running, but you need to be aware if this is a part-time gig before committing. Someone who also works somewhere else may be harder to reach and could miss out on opportunities to show your house.

"markets change. Prices go up and down. If you buy a home with a short-term plan, you may find that your home is worth less than what you paid for it," she says. "remember, real estate is a long-term investment. ".

There are a lot of real estate professionals out there today. Chances are you may already know one from within your own social circle. You can get referrals from neighbors, friends, and family members. Or you can use tools like trulia’s find an agent directory to help you find highly-recommended agents who know your target neighborhood and has a special skill set (e. G. , relocation specialists, speaks a foreign language, etc. ) to help you with your house hunt.

Real estate professionals have to take additional specialized training in order to obtain these distinctions. Designations and certifications help define the special skills that an agent can apply to your particular real estate needs. One designation buyers should look for is the abr®, or accredited buyer’s representative.

Selling property is one of the primary roles of a real estate agent. Your answer shows what your experience is in the industry. This answer is your chance to demonstrate how many homes you have sold and what type they were. Even if you have not sold a large number of homes yet due to being new in the industry, you can always highlight the positive aspects and talk about the most impressive examples you have.

The most important thing you need to know about buying a new home from a builder in sunnyvale is that it can be an easy process if you have the right team behind you which includes a top sunnyvale real estate agent. It’s important to set a budget, figure out what kind of home you’re looking for, and then go into the process ready to make a deal.

Denver real estate agents and their clients formalize the relationship with an “exclusive right to buy. ” this is the contract that states you are working together and that the client is not working for anyone else. Most agents want them signed; in fact, an agent who doesn’t want one signed is probably not very experienced.

12. How Do You Plan to Market the Home?

You'll want to know how the agent plans to search for your new home if you're a buyer, and how many homes she thinks you're likely to see before you find the one you want. Will you be competing against other buyers? how does the agent handle multiple offers? as a seller, you'll want to know exactly how the agent will market your home. Is a direct mail campaign appropriate? where and how often does she advertise? what kind of photography does she offer? does she market online? what steps will she take to prepare your home for sale?.

19. What Do You Believe Will Sell This Home?

Know going in that sellers (and their agents) aren’t going to like this question all that much, but it’s still worth asking. After all, you can use this for leverage. A foreclosed home in the area is generally going to cost less, and that sheer fact introduces the opportunity for price competition that may allow you to offer up less of your own money. Score!.

Home buying seems simple enough: find a house you like that’s close to work or school, tell someone you want to buy it, and move in. But there's more to it than that. You’ll have to find and get approved by a lender who will let you borrow a few hundred thousand dollars, lock in a mortgage rate, figure out how much house you can afford, put in an offer that will entice the seller, get an inspection and an appraisal, pay closing costs and sign a whole bunch of paperwork.

Town house living can be frustrating if the property is not well maintained by management. Dues paid to the homeowners association should be properly allocated and managed. This is not only important for you as a homeowner but also affects resale value when it comes time to sell. Some important questions to ask include what the budget is and if the association is in good financial standing, what the reserve account holds for emergencies, and if there are any current or proposed special assessments. You also might want to ask about what type of insurance the association has and what the policy covers.

Why is the owner selling and how long have they lived there? is the seller moving because they took a new job overseas, or is it because the home is slowly sinking into the ground? asking what the motivations are behind the seller's move will help you gage if the home will be a good fit for you. If the seller is moving because he or she has to be somewhere else within a predetermined time, they may be more willing to negotiate on price. Finding out how long the sellers have lived in the home may be helpful information to gather as well. Are they moving because they can't stand the neighborhood, or are they taking a sabbatical in another country?.

Kevin. Delmore@ sothebyshomes. Com a: excellent communication between agent and client remains crucial in ensuring a less stressful, successful experience. When we ask the important questions up front, your objectives and preferences will be clarified. If you are a seller, we should understand why you are making a move and what your timeline is. Is there flexibility with timing? it is also vital to know what your expectations are regarding the value of your home.

If you are a first time home buyer, then you may not be aware of essential questions to ask when buying a home - let alone homes in foreclosure. Regardless of whether you are an investor looking to purchase fixer upper homes or if you are looking for a new primary place of residence, you have to know what to ask before you purchase bank foreclosures , short sales , or any other type of distressed property. Below are some essential questions that you should ask the home seller before you sign on the dotted line.

How to interview a good realtor gifts gift for realtor from buyer realtor promotional gifts is something every seller should know! spending the necessary time to go through the interview process with a realtor should be one of the most critical things on anyone’s agenda when considering selling their home, yet many do not take the time to do so.

How many real estate agents should I interview?

It happens all the time: you’re contacted by a potential seller. Maybe the seller was referred to you, you met at an open house, or she’s just gotten fed up with the fsbo route. Whatever the reason, you’re having a conversation about the possibility of listing the home. You finish the home tour. What’s your next move? like clark kent slipping into the phone booth, you need an instant transformation. No, we’re not suggesting a cape and blue tights, but you need to morph instantly from a realtor to a consultant. Go into your interview mode, and win the real estate listing interview by asking these eight important questions:.

A verified approval starts with the same credit pull steps as a prequalified approval, but we also ask you to send in documentation to prove income and assets like tax returns, w-2s and bank statements. Because all of your information is verified – a process we promise to complete within 24 hours, you can be sure that your mortgage approval is the real deal. Real estate agents and sellers can have confidence that you’re good for the financing. It gives your offer the strength of one from a cash buyer.

Vp regional sales director - apex home loans jen is a highly sought after speaker and author, consultant, trainer, and coach. Her desire is to help others in her industry, as well as real estate agents, small business owners and executives by offering and developing educational training, consulting and coaching. She has helped numerous clients achieve their personal, professional and leadership goals.

In addition to paying their listing agent, the seller also pays the buyer’s agent out of the money you pay for the house — typically 2. 5%–3% of the sale price. Some buyer’s agents — like redfin agents — refund part of this fee. Learn more about real estate commission.

There is no one-size-fits-all model for real estate teams. The size and ratio of members will vary depending on the city, whether it’s a franchise or independent brokerage, the housing market, etc. Ask for a very clear break down of how large the team is, how many buyers agents and isas there are, and who you would be reporting to. Additionally, what are the business goals for the team? do they have remote teams in other cities/states, or are they considering expanding? some teams are more specialized in a niche market, or “boutique,” while others service a broad range of clients. Understanding the team’s growth model and mission will give you a clear picture or whether or not it aligns with your ideal career path.

Although this might not purely be a home buying question, as a potential future client (either as a buyer or seller), wouldn’t it be nice to already have a short-list of real estate agents to reach out to? what better way to start a relationship than at the show house of the house you’re about to buy!.

There is wide agreement among estate planners that obtaining accurate, complete information is critical to fashioning a proper estate plan and keeping the estate planner shielded from malpractice. Is there really more to the initial estate planning client interview than having some basic social skills and a good fact-finder? can estate planning interview skills be identified, taught and learned?.

Question 5: How do you plan to market the home?

The expired listing is one of the easiest sources of inventory for a savvy agent. Most homeowners who have experienced the marketing process without a sale may have had a bad experience or were unprepared from their initial listing experience. This makes it an easy addition to your inventory when you simply ask the right questions!.

Have a pool table?  will it fit around the corner to go down into the basement man cave you have planned?  how about that large sofa you want to put in the upstairs master bedroom?  even more important, will your large suv, pick-up truck or van fit into the garage?  these are some common unhappy surprises people find when they move into a new home. Avoid them by adding it to your list of questions to ask when buying a house measuring the spaces before you buy.

Buying a home is a rite of passage. However, it can be a nerve-wracking one filled with doubts, second guessing, and uncertainty. To help ease the process for nervous buyers or even veteran ones well-versed in the ins and outs of the market, the experts—a. K. A. The folks at realtor. Com —came up with a list of six questions you should always ask your realtor before you buy a house :.

An excellent question to ask a lender will be whether or not you should choose a fixed or adjustable rate mortgage. If you don’t plan to be in your home long, an adjustable rate may be the best option. For example, you may know you’re definitely going to be transferred within a couple of years.

Before we delve into the questions you should ask before buying a condo, its important to understand how the managing of a condominium complex works. Generally, upon purchasing you become a member of the home owners association or hoa. An hoa is in charge of governing and maintaining a planned community like a condominium complex.

Even if there is no homeowners association for the development, the builder may still set some guidelines as far as what’s allowed and what’s not on your property. For example, you may not be able to use a particular type of fencing or install a shed in your backyard. It’s better to ask this question early and know what to expect than to move in and find out that you can’t bring into fruition certain plans you had for the space.

So you’ve found a house that you love, but before you schedule a showing ask your realtor the following questions to ensure it’s worth your time.

one reader said it best: no one renovates their house to sell unless they’re trying to hide something. Well, not every renovation has to be so sneaky, but you never know. Is there fresh paint in the basement, covering up water stains? is there anything else that they’ve replaced just to sell? what’s the real story behind their renovations? don’t just “ooh” and “ahh” over the new whatever. Ask about the renovation and why they decided to renovate now. Sometimes a home looks brand-spanking new because it was recently renovated by investors that bought the property for a discount, fixed it up, and then re-listed it for a profit. If that’s the case, that’s okay. Just do your research and ask your real estate agent if that particular investor has a good reputation in the area for quality rehabs.

July 18, 2018 for home buyers trying to decide which real estate agent to work with on buying or selling a home, the number of choices and agents can be overwhelming. You should definitely get referrals from friends and family and do a good amount of research online, but ultimately, hiring a realtor® is a personal choice.

By ilona bray , j. D. If you’ve identified a few real estate agents who seem like good candidates to sell your house and have checked out their websites (see the nolo article “ choosing a real estate agent to sell your home ”), the next step is to arrange an in-person meeting. Allow at least one hour to show the agent your home and discuss possible prices and issues in the sale. Here are the topics you want to discuss:.

You want to sell your home. The first step is to interview a real estate agent. Ideally, you shouldn't stop with just one. If you interview three or more real estate agents, you’ll be able to compare them more effectively and choose one who is a good fit with you and your property.

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