5 Questions to Ask Your Next Real Estate Agent

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5 Questions to Ask Your Next Real Estate Agent
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• When it comes to buying and selling a home, the
  process of finding a reliable and reputable real
  estate agent can be a daunting process. A good
  agent can make your life that much easier when it
  comes to sealing your property deal, so its
  advantageous for you to ensure youve got the
  right one for you. When it comes time to choose,
  beware the fancy brochures and flashy cars. Not
  all agents are the same, and some may take
  advantage of you, leaving you significantly
  out-of-pocket. To prevent such an outcome, be
  sure to ask your real estate agent these five
  questions first

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1. Can I See Your References?

• Finding a good agent is like a job interview, and
  youre the boss. Sure, a real estate agent will
  be able to emphasize all of his positives sales
  records, qualifications, experience and so on
  but can they back up their claims with proof? Ask
  your real estate agent for a list of references
  you can contact, and be sure to get the full
  scoop before you sign the dotted line. Call and
  ask if the previous clients were pleased with the
  work, if the agent was easy to contact, if they
  were kept well informed, and if they would
  recommend the agent. Make sure references are
  unbiased by checking their relation to the agent.
  Friends and family are likely to give glowing
  reviews no matter the honest truth.

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2. Can You Provide a Comparative Market Analysis?

• To gauge the market price of the home you wish to
  buy or sell, be sure to ask your next real estate
  agent for a comparative market analysis (CMA). A
  CMA is a listing of sales and buying history for
  your area, and is able to compare specific
  details of your home to see what similar has sold
  in the past. This information is vital in
  determining what price you can potentially
  achieve through a sale or what the home you are
  looking at is really worth.

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3. How Will You Market My Home?

• Marketing your home is the most important step
  when attempting to sell. There are many ways that
  this can be done, and if it was simply a matter
  of posting a for-sale sign on your front lawn,
  then everyone would be doing it. A real estate
  agent can offer you access to a range of
  resources for marketing your home. Before you
  sign on with an agent, make sure you ask them to
  provide a marketing plan which outlines how they
  intend on advertising your house so it gets sold
  quickly and for the right price.

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4. What Are Your Fees?

• Money talks, and the amount your agent will
  charge for their service is money from your
  bottom line. Ask your next real estate agent
  about their fee structure and how much you can
  expect to pay for your desired sale price.
  Pricing structure may vary, but most agents take
  a percentage of the homes final sale price as
  their commission. This percentage will vary with
  each agent, and remember, everything is
  negotiable. If youre not happy with the
  commission youre quoted, ask if they can do a
  better deal. Price isnt the only factor though,
  since in the end, youre likely to get what you
  pay for.
• Another consideration to discuss with your real
  estate agent is their cancellation policy. If you
  discovered after signing an agent that your
  cousin is interested in buying your house, what
  would be the repercussions? Make sure you get the
  full picture of your sale or purchase by
  requesting a full list of fees and charges. That
  way youll know what to expect, without the nasty
  surprises.

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5. Whats Your Experience?

• Nothing speaks more about the quality of an agent
  than their experience, but how do you measure it?
  Heres a couple of good measures of experience to
  ask your agent before taking business further
• How many years experience do you have? How long
  have you been in the business?
• Whats your list-price-to-selling-price ratio?
  This ratio is calculated by comparing the
  original list price of the property to the price
  at which it sold. Choose an agent with a ratio
  close to 100.
• What types of property have they sold? Are they
  more experienced selling condos, large comes, or
  even commercial real estate?
• Finding an agent with the right expertise for
  your circumstance will help you achieve a better
  outcome for your property transaction, so be sure
  to ask before you make a decision.

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• If youre on the hunt for a property agent for
  the sale or purchase of your next home, then make
  sure you choose wisely by asking your real estate
  agent the right questions. The five questions
  listed above are a great starting point, and you
  may wish to add to them depending on your needs.
  Getting clear on an agents offering will ensure
  your experience is smooth and one which will lead
  to more money left in your bank account.

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Questions? Need More Information?

• Feel free to contact us.

• Website http//michaelputnam.com/
• Michael Putnam
• info_at_michaelputnam.com
• 703-928-6514
•  
• Sources
• http//home.howstuffworks.com/real-estate/buying-h
  ome/5-questions-you-should-ask-your-realtor1.htm
• http//michaelputnam.com/5-questions-to-ask-your-n
  ext-real-estate-agent/