Real Estate Agents
Real estate agents can be your most valuable resource if you're buying or selling a house or other property. Their job is to help you find the right home that suits your needs at a good price. They can also help you sell a house at a fair price for both parties.
When you think of real estate agents you probably picture someone who ferries a client around looking at potential homes. But there is much, much more to it than that! In the U.S. an agent is required to take nearly 70 hours of classroom education and pay about $2,000 in fees. They learn the legal aspects of buying and selling homes and know the many laws and regulations involved in property transfers. There have been many real estate deals that fall through due to the owner's or buyer's ignorance of real estate laws.
Using a real estate agent when you sell your house also means that his or her agency will be actively advertising your property and making every effort to reach buyers who are looking to buy a house like yours. Since most real estate agents work on a commission basis, your agent is highly motivated to sell your home at the highest price possible!
If you are selling your home the agent acts as a kind of caretaker; they field inquiries on the property, set up appointments to show the house, arrange for an open house showing if you like and make sure that the property is secure and protected. If an offer is made, the agent will convey it to you and help you make a counteroffer if you are not satisfied with the price.
Real estate agents help you decide on what price you should ask for your house by accessing the prices homes in your neighborhood have sold for. This is called “comping” (comparing). He or she will make sure your price is not too high to sell but not so low that it hurts you financially.
Most real estate agents also have relationships with other professionals in the business, such as mortgage brokers. Your agent can connect you with a reputable broker that is right for you. You can arrange for a mortgage is you’re buying a home and know that you’re probably getting the best help available. After all, your agent’s reputation is riding on your satisfaction!
You’ll also find that real estate agents can be property managers. If you are an absent landlord or must move away while your house is waiting for a buyer, a real estate agent will actively manage your real estate investment and act as a go-between for contractors and renters or lessees; they will make sure that your property stays in good condition.
There are so many services that a real estate agent can perform, services that would cost you much more than their commission if you hired people to do them all! Real estate agents are your best chance to find the home you’ve always wanted or sell your own home at a price agreeable to both buyer and seller.