Three Things To Remember When Hiring A Real Estate Agent
Hiring a real estate agent when buying a home can offer a lot of great benefits. An agent can help you negotiate a better price, find the right listing, and even navigate the closing process with you. However, it's important to understand some of the basics of hiring a real estate agent. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind as you prepare to buy a home.
Be Serious About Buying
Real estate agents get paid a commission based on the homes that they sell. Your agent will work hard to get you into the home you want, but he or she can only do that if you're ready to buy. If you are just hoping to browse around and see what's on the market, it might not be the right time for you to hire an agent. What you can do, if you are in the early stages, is to begin interviewing agents you might want to hire. Choose someone you feel comfortable talking to and working with, and keep their contact information until you're ready to begin a serious house hunt.
Know What You Want
While you might be unsure about some of the details you would like in your new home, it's a good idea to have a solid grasp of your deal-breakers before hiring an agent. Your real estate agent will get to work right away for you, but he or she won't be able to help you find that dream home unless you know what it should look like. Go into your first meeting with a list of must-haves and wants. Your agent can use this information to narrow down the available listings and find the right option.
Don't Go Rogue
You may be tempted to visit a couple of open houses without your real estate agent present, but it's a good idea to opt against this. Your agent acts as your representative in virtually all matters connected to buying your home. He or she can advocate for you at open houses, private showings and meetings with sellers. Appearing at an open house without your agent can leave you unprotected should you start discussing details about the house with the listing agent. For example, the agent representing the sellers might indicate that certain repairs might be the responsibility of the buyer. Your real estate agent can act as a negotiator and work to protect your interests, not the seller's.
