Questions to ask when hiring a real estate buyers agent Who can help you find a home for sale in Pleasanton, CA ! 1. How Long Have You Been locating Homes for Sale in Pleasanton CA? The standard joke is there's nothing wrong with a new agent that a little experience won't fix. But that's not to say that freshly licensed agents aren't valuable. Newer agents tend to have more time to concentrate on you. 2. What is Your Average Sales-Price for homes for sale? Knowing the agent's average sales price speaks volumes. Excluding sizzling seller's markets, a good buyer's agent should be able to negotiate a sales price that is lower than list price for buyers. 3. What is Your Best Marketing Plan or Strategy in finding Pleasanton homes for sale? As a buyer, you will need to know: a. How will you search for my new home? b. How many homes will I likely see before I find a home I want to buy? c. Will I be competing against other buyers? d. How do you handle multiple offers? e. Do you present offers yourself? 4. Will You Provide References? Everybody has references. Even new agents have references from previous employers. - Ask to see references. - Ask if any of the individuals providing references are related to the agent. - Ask if you can call the references with additional questions. - What Are the Top Three Things That Separate You From Other Buyers Agents? 5. Why should I hire you as my buyers agent? A good agent won't hesitate to answer this question and will be ready to fire off why he or she is best suited for the job. Everyone has their own standards, but most consumers say they are looking for agents who say they are: - Honest and trustworthy - Assertive - Excellent negotiators - Available by phone or e-mail - Good communicators - Friendly - Analytical 6. May I Review Documents Beforehand That I Will Be Asked to Sign? A sign of a good real estate agent is a professional who makes forms available to you for preview Be-fore you are required to sign them. If at all possible, ask for these documents up-front. - Buyer's Agent Agreement (is it exclusive or non-exclusive?) - Agency Disclosures - Purchase Agreement - Buyer Disclosures 7. How Will You Help Me Find Other Professionals to help find Pleasanton homes for sale? Let the real estate agent explain to you who she works with and why she chooses these professionals. Your agent should be able to supply you with a written list of referring vendors such as mortgage brokers, home inspectors and title companies. Ask for an explanation if you see the term "affiliated" because it could mean that the agent and her Agent are receiving compensation from one or all of vendors, and you could be paying a premium for the service. 8. How Much Do You Charge? Don't ask if the fee is negotiable. All real estate fees are negotiable. Typically, real estate agents charge a percentage, from 1% to 4% to represent one side of a transaction for a seller or a buyer. A listing agent may charge, for example, 3.5% for herself and another 3.5% for the buyer's agent, for a total of 7%. 9. What Kind of Guarantee Do You Offer? If you sign a listing or buying agreement with the agent and later find that you are unhappy with the arrangement, will the agent let you cancel the agreement? Will the agent stand behind her service to you? What is his or her company's policy about canceled agreements? 10. What Haven't I Asked You That I Need to Know? Pay close attention to how the real estate agent answers this question because there is always something you need to know, always. You want an agent to take their time with you to make sure you feel comfortable and secure with their knowledge and experience. They should know how to listen and how to counsel you, how to ask the right questions to find out how they can serve you best.
Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
