How to Choose A Real Estate Agent

How do you choose a Real Estate agent? When you’re buying a home, chances are you’ll want a real estate agent. Real Estate agents can be extremely helpful when it comes to doing the footwork, finding prospective properties and narrowing down the field. A good agent can give you information about the area, tell you whether or not the neighborhood is good for your needs and even whether or not the house is priced properly. Find the right Real Estate agent to smooth your home buying process.  

Seller’s agents versus buyer’s agents.

The most important distinction to know when you’re agent-shopping is the difference between a seller’s agent and a buyer’s agent. When a homeowner decides to sell his or her home and lists it with a real estate agent, that agent is known as the seller’s agent. That agent’s job is to represent the seller’s best interests. Therefore, you as a buyer are a secondary concern, and if the agent can get a better deal for his sellers, you might end up with a deal that’s not right for you.

A buyer’s agent is a real estate agent that you contact and contract with to help you find and negotiate for homes. The buyer’s agent works on your behalf; not the seller’s behalf, even if he gets a portion of the seller’s commission. This makes the buyer’s agent your advocate, and someone who you can generally trust to look out for your interests and not the seller’s. However, not all properties offer commissions to buyer’s agents, so if you have a buyer’s agent, you might miss out on a property that the agent wouldn’t bother to show you because your agent wouldn’t get commission.

Look at an agent’s track record.

To find out if an agent is a good fit for you, look at the agent’s track record. Has he or she sold many homes in your price range, or is the agent accustomed to selling more expensive (or less expensive) homes? Have the homes been located in areas where you’d like to live, or neighborhoods that don’t seem like a good fit? Finding an agent who deals mostly in the types of properties you want to own can give you a big boost toward knowing the real estate agent has your back, and the expertise to help you find your dream home.

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Steve SchraderBachar is a local mortgage planning expert who resides in Iowa and provides service to the clients of his mortgage planning practice across the Midwest.  You can reach Steve at 1-515-289-4381 or 515-360-5197.