It’s the biggest purchase Americans make … the house. The best way to make sure that buying a house goes off without a hitch is to get as much information about the process as possible, and to also know how to select the right real estate agent. On that note:
Five Things to Know About a Real Estate Agent What’s Your Number? – Ask how many properties the agent has sold. You want to see a proven track record, and someone who sells 10 homes a year probably won’t get the job done as well as someone who sells 50 or 60 homes. Also, you want to find someone who is experienced in selling homes in your neighborhood.
It Ain’t Pretty – A good real estate agent will make nice but honest suggestions on how to cosmetically improve your home. Don’t take it personally. Listen, make the changes, and get your home sold. Simple.
Out To Lunch – Do they work full time? The odds are that agents who sell homes part time or just on the weekends won’t be available when you need them. Ask them about their system for finding buyers and communicating with you as the seller, as well as if they have a team to cover for them if they are sick or on vacation.
Show Me the Odds – Ask what the agent’s list-to-sell ratio is. What percentages of houses that they list actually sell, and what percentage of asking price do they get? The agent who wants to sell a house for the highest price is probably not the right person. Anybody can ask a high price, but that doesn’t mean they can sell it for that.
Not All in the Family – Don’t list your house with a family member or friend just because of the relationship. This is a business transaction, and if they are not good at the business, then your house doesn’t get sold. If they are the top real estate agent in the market, then that’s a different story. But hiring someone based purely on relationships is always bad.
How to pick a REALTOR- 5 Things you need to know.
The Agent and Buying a House—What to Know
Five Things to Know About a Real Estate Agent
What’s Your Number? – Ask how many properties the agent has sold. You want to see a proven track record, and someone who sells 10 homes a year probably won’t get the job done as well as someone who sells 50 or 60 homes. Also, you want to find someone who is experienced in selling homes in your neighborhood.
It Ain’t Pretty – A good real estate agent will make nice but honest suggestions on how to cosmetically improve your home. Don’t take it personally. Listen, make the changes, and get your home sold. Simple.
Out To Lunch – Do they work full time? The odds are that agents who sell homes part time or just on the weekends won’t be available when you need them. Ask them about their system for finding buyers and communicating with you as the seller, as well as if they have a team to cover for them if they are sick or on vacation.
Show Me the Odds – Ask what the agent’s list-to-sell ratio is. What percentages of houses that they list actually sell, and what percentage of asking price do they get? The agent who wants to sell a house for the highest price is probably not the right person. Anybody can ask a high price, but that doesn’t mean they can sell it for that.
Not All in the Family – Don’t list your house with a family member or friend just because of the relationship. This is a business transaction, and if they are not good at the business, then your house doesn’t get sold. If they are the top real estate agent in the market, then that’s a different story. But hiring someone based purely on relationships is always bad.
*Artical from the Dave Ramsey Show
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