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Finding the Right Real Estate Company
Many of the same questions, hesitations and
strategies connected with seeking out professional assistance in any field - whether you're looking
for a
doctor, dentist, lawyer or accountant - come into play when you're selecting a real estate agent.
Some people find an agent through a family
member or friend. This is often a reliable approach. But you might not always find the most compatible
assistance this way. And in a transaction as important and intensive as buying and selling a home, that can be
critical. A referral from a family member or friend
doesn't guarantee a perfect match. Just think of something as simple as a movie or restaurant
recommendation. Your close friends rave about a
new movie they saw - so you check it out. Could this
possibly be the same movie they were describing? You just can't see what they could have liked
about it. It's the same movie. Same cinema. Just different perceptions.
Regardless of how you get an agent's name, it
might be worth interviewing two or three before you make a final decision - or at least arming yourself
with some criteria to discuss with any agent who has been recommended to you.
A few things to look for:
- If you're looking for an agent to list your home, be wary of
anyone who suggests he or she can get an unreasonably high sales price. An agent might use
a high listing price to secure a contract, only to seek a lower price later, after little
traffic is generated at the initial price level. Meanwhile, you've lost what can be the
most critical time period in selling
a home - the first weeks immediately after it's
listed.
- Check on the agent's experience, education and productivity.
As with most professions, experience pays in real estate. Experienced agents know the
market and the marketing process. They'll have the best chance of quickly and smoothly
helping you buy or sell your home.
- Does the agent know the market? Is the agent active in
soliciting business in your neighborhood? Do you see the agent's yard signs around the
neighborhood?
- And a final point: Does the agent seem primarily interested
in sharing expertise and market knowledge in an honest and straightforward manner? Or does
the agent seem more interested in telling you what you want to hear - or spend a lot of
effort trying to market additional products and services? The worst time to secure the
services of a "yes-man" or an agent who seems to have a
bit too many irons in
the fire is when you're entering a transaction involving something as expensive as your
home. You need straightforward, reliable information - even
if it's not necessarily
flattering regarding the home you're selling - or very encouraging regarding a home you
think you might want to buy.
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