Questions You Should Ask A Realtor Before Signing Anything
by Chuck Lunsford
Questions you should ask a Realtor before signing anything. A Realtor is hired to help you complete a real estate transaction with your best interest in mind. However, there are a few questions that you can ask a Realtor to ensure that you will receive the best service possible. Also, these questions will help you to make sure that the Realtor will be able to meet your expectations.
1. When you are hiring a Realtor for your real estate transactions, you are hiring them for their professional experience. Therefore an important question is; how much experience do they have in real estate. How much experience do they have working with real estate in the area you want to conduct your real estate transaction?
Even though Realtors follow a higher level of ethics, there are still new Realtors. There are also Realtors that are new to the area and may not have the necessary connections that it would take for you to get the service you need.
2. Are you able to check their references? Can you talk to one or two of their previous customers? Do they have any letters of recommendation that you can read? Most good Realtors will offer this information before you ask, but if not, it should not be a problem for them to provide these to you. You are hiring someone just like any other job.
3. What education does the Realtor have? What ongoing education have they completed? Do they have any other certifications do they have?
4. What time frame do they work? Selling or buying a home takes a great deal of time. If a Realtor is only working part time, that is only part time that they will be able to dedicate to you. Therefore, if they work 5pm to 6pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday, that is all the time they would have to work for you. This may not be the best hours for a home to be bought or sold. You will need a Realtor that can be there to help you. A good Realtor works seven days a week and would be on-call. When a home can be shown or sold they will be there.
5. Are they a member of their local Board of Realtors? It is a good idea to make sure that they have taken the time to work with the local Realtors and understand the area they are working in.
6. What tools will they have available to help you complete your real estate transaction. Do they go through the MLS listing service? What other forms of advertising options will they use? Do they have open houses? What contacts do they have?
7. Will it be the Realtor themselves that will be completing your transaction, or will it be the Realtors assistant. Can you request that the Realtor be the one that is working with you.
8. Where will the Realtor be getting their leads? Will they be going from their own lists, or will it be from many sources.
9. What can you do to make sure that your home is ready for the market. Are there repairs, etc to make sure that your home will sale for the price you are looking for? If you are looking to buy a home, is there a faster way that you can view homes that are available.
10. What are the Realtors fees? Are they negotiable? What amount of the commission is going to be put into advertising? Will you be paying any additional fees, other than the down payment and closing costs?
After you have asked the Realtors you are looking to hire, you will have a good idea of what you can expect. If you are ready to sign a contract at this point, try to make it a short contract. Also, see if there are options for non-exclusivity. If however you find the perfect Realtor for your needs, sign away. They are likely to make sure that your real estate needs are taken care of.
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