How do I find a real estate
agent?
Getting a recommendation from a friend or work colleague is an
excellent way to find a good agent. Be sure to ask if they would use the agent
again. You also can call the managers of reputable real estate firms and ask
them for recommendations of agents who have worked in your neighborhood. In any
case, whether you are a buyer or a seller, you should interview at least three
agents to give yourself a choice. A good agent typically works full-time and has
several years of experience. If you are a seller, you should expect to review a
comparative market analysis, which includes recent home sale prices in your
area, when you talk to a prospective agent.
What about a buyer's
agent?
In many states, it's now common for an agent to represent the
buyers exclusively in the transaction and be paid a commission by the sellers.
More and more buyers are going a step further, hiring and paying for their own
agent, referred to as buyers brokers.
How do you find a good
agent?
Getting a recommendation from a friend or work colleague is an
excellent way to find a good agent, whether you are a buyer or a seller. Be sure
to ask if they would use the agent again. You also can call the managers of
reputable real estate firms and ask them for recommendations of agents who have
worked in your neighborhood.
A good agent typically works full-time and has
several years of experience at minimum. If you are a buyer, you don't usually
pay for your agent's services (in the form of a commission, or percentage of the
sales price of the home). All agents in a transaction usually are paid by the
seller from the sales proceeds. It's legal
for an agent to represent the buyers exclusively in the transaction and be paid
a commission by the sellers. You also can hire and pay for your own agent, known
as buyer's brokers, whose legal obligation is exclusively to you. If you are a
seller, you should interview at least three agents, all of whom should make a
sales presentation including a comparative market analysis of local home prices
in your area. The best choice isn't always the agent with the highest asking
price for your home. Be sure to evaluate all aspects of the agent's marketing
plan and how well you think you can work with the individual.