Finding A Capable Agent To Meet Your Real Estate Needs

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, selling your current home or relocating to a different part of the country, the support of

a qualified, knowledgeable real estate agent can alleviate many of your concerns and ensure a smooth transaction. A

professional agent can market your present residence, help you locate the home of your dreams and assist in making your

transfer to an unfamiliar area easier.

To find a trained sales associate or broker, you may need to look no further than your own neighborhood or home town. If a

well-established brokerage is involved in many listings and sale, this is a god sign. Speak with some of the agent’s past

customers about the quality and integrity of service and performance. Successful real estate agents rely heavily on customer

referrals and will therefore strive to provide the very best in customer service and satisfaction.

Set up appointments to “interview” agents and brokers much like an employer world interview a prospective employee. Inquire

about their training, marketing programs and specific service policies. Also determine how many years of experience they

have, the number of listings they have had, and the number of homes they have sold within the past few years. More

importantly, find out how well they know the area. Ask for references, and check them out.

Your goal is to determine just how knowledgeable the agents are. Question them on financing, closing costs and/or local

market conditions, depending on whether you’re a prospective home buyer or seller, to determine their expertise. If they know

their stuff, they should be able to answer your questions effortlessly.

If you’re selling your home, learn what they will do if you decide to list with them. How do they plan to market your home?

Will they provide you with a market analysis to help you determine the most effective listing price for your property? Will

they supply regular progress reports and assist with negotiations once you’ve received offers?

If you are relocating to a different part of the country, is your agent connected with a national relocation service that

will not only expose your present property to incoming transferees, but assist with your search for a new house?