Download Buying or selling a home soon

Buying or selling a home soon? My advice is to select a Realtor® based on
interviewing 2-3 Real Estate Professionals. This can be one of the most important
and largest financial decisions you will make. Remember this is a business
transaction and should be treated as such. Emotions can get involved and you do
not want to be misrepresented or have miscommunication. If you are considering
working with a family member or friend, I suggest you still interview others, then,
make an informed decision. The questions below may help guide your interviews.
Are you a full-time, licensed, professional Realtor®? How long have
you been representing buyers and/or sellers? What professional
designations do you have?
Knowing whether or not your agent practices full time can help you determine
potential scheduling conflicts and his or her commitment to your transaction and
knowledge of the market. The length of their profession does not necessarily
reflect the level of service you can expect which is also applicable with
professional designations. Keep in mind there are a lot of sub par agents with a
tremendous business and new agents that are phenomenal and quite possibly
more service and oriented. After all, marketing oneself can play a significant role
of growing a Realtor's® business which does not always coincide with their
service.
Do you have a personal assistant or others you work with that I can
talk to in your absence? It is not uncommon for agents to have others
working with them (assistants, mentees, etc.). Ask if there are others to fill in
when your agent is not available.
Do you have a Website that will provide me with useful information?
An agent's Website, if equipped properly, can allow you to greatly reduce the
amount of time you spend on your search as well as efficiently and effectively
communicate on-line. You will have the power to search all of Chicago and have
access to ALL Realtor's listings, email questions and answers, and search per
your schedule in your own home before you waste time physically viewing a
property that does not meet your criteria. Leading to saved, precious time for all!
How will you get paid?
In Illinois , the seller pays all Realtor® fees. If you are a buyer, you do not pay for
a professional Realtor's® services. There is not a single reason, as a buyer, you
should not have a professional Realtor® represent you as you have everything to
gain. If you are a seller, fees will vary with every Realtor® per the services offered
or not offered. A seller should be concerned with maximum exposure and should
ask, “How will my property be marketed?” You want more than an MLS listing
and newspaper ad, but most agents do not offer much more as this all that the
brokerage firm will pay out of their own pocket. If a home is marketed further, it's
at the agent's own expense and most agents are not willing to spend their own
money to market your property. Marketing is one of the driving factors that will
sell your home which should encompass personal showings, open houses, parties,
ads, emails, Internet postings, etc.
What distinguishes you from other real estate agents? What is your
communicating style?
Ask agents how they feel they differ from others. If you are buying, you should be
given a guide to walk you through the process. If selling, you should be given a
market analysis and marketing plan. You want to make sure your agent is YOUR
advocate and is listening to and hearing you. Come to terms with how you prefer
to communicate throughout your process. You may chose to talk by phone, fax,
and/or email, once a day, once a week, more frequent or less. Establish those
guidelines upfront so to make sure this is a relationship and schedule that is
conducive for both of you.
What do I need to do before I start the buying process?
An agent should be able to give you advice as to how to start your search as well
as how to prepare financially. This should be covered in your interview or free,
initial consultation. You will be ahead of many if you find out now what you need
to do to prepare to buy in the future (raise your credit score and how, costs to
close, down payments, etc.).
What do I need to do to prepare my house for sale?
Your Realtor® should give you advice on how to ‘stage' your house for sale. You
may need to paint, organize, fix leaky faucets, or remove offensive art, just to
name a few. If you are considering remodeling, your agent should give you
recommendations on what the market is commanding and what features are
priorities for buyers (new kitchens, new bathrooms) as well as referrals to aide
your remodeling project.
The above questions and suggestions should help you when you start
interviewing. Good luck! Not to sound like a cliché, but your gut will often help
you make an informed and educated decision based on your interaction with the
agent and information you collect. Make sure the Realtor® you chose does what
he/she says they will do. Ask for references!