Eight Questions To Ask Any Real Estate Agent Before Signing Anything

< b>Everywhere you look,          the business?                  there are advertisements        Pretty much any average person     for Real Estate, and for        could decide they want to get      Real Estate Agents. We’re         their license today, and have      everywhere! The reason is pretty      that license in their mailbox a    simple: It’s not extremely            month later. Because of this,      difficult to get your real estate     your Real Estate Agent’s           license, a college degree is not      experience is VERY important. A    required, and the income              new Agent will learn a LOT their   potential is pretty high.             first year, and will continue to   Unfortunately, this means that        learn more with every              there are a lot of BAD Real           transaction. Don’t automatically   Estate Agents out there. The BEST     choose against a newer Agent –     way to find a good professional –     they typically bring a lot of      in any industry – is to ask for a     energy to the transaction, and     referral from a trusted friend or     they will have LOTS of time for    colleague. This does not,             you. However, if you do decide to  however, mean that any person         use a newer Agent, make sure they  referred to you is a quality          have a great support system        professional – everyone has a         behind them.                       brother, sister, aunt, uncle, or                                         cousin who is in the business,        2) Are you a Realtor?       after all – but it will increase      Not all Real Estate Agents are     your odds. There are a few            Realtors. Members of the National  questions that you should ask ANY     Association of Realtors have to    Real Agent before signing a           adhere to a strict code of         buyer’s agency or listing             ethics, or otherwise face having   agreement.                            their membership revoked. Also,                                          you must be a member of the        1) How long have you been in       National Association of Realtors   to have access to the MLS             customers. Agents typically cut    (Multiple Listing Service) which      their teeth working with renters.  is what gives Realtors access to                                         almost every home for sale in         5) Can I have a list of past    their market area.                    customers?                                                           Take the time to call a few of an  3) What certifications do you      Agent’s past customers. Ask for    hold?                             their strengths and weaknesses     There is an “alphabet soup” of        (and make sure they don’t share    advanced certifications that Real     the Agent’s last name.)            Estate Agents can earn. While it                                         doesn’t automatically mean that       6) Who is your Broker? Can I    they are a good Agent, it does        call him/her?                  mean they are serious about their     Real Estate Agencies are moving    job. Keep an eye out for GRI –        towards the “mega-brokerage”       this is the most time consuming       mentality which means that many    certification to obtain.              Agents today have never met their                                        Broker. If an agent doesn’t have   4) What is your specialty?     their Broker’s cell phone number,  Real Estate Agents typically          find out who they will call if     categorize themselves as either       they run into questions.           “commercial” or “residential”                                            which are vastly different. Even      7) How many sales did you       among Residential Real Estate         complete last year?            Agents, though, agents will           A good agent will complete at      specialize in Buyers, Sellers, or     least 25 sales per calendar year.  Renters. Some Residential Agents      You want to make sure that the     successfully handle Buyers &          agent helping you through the      Sellers, but make sure they come      largest purchase or sale of your   with plenty of satisfied              life is a GOOD agent.                                                                                       8) Is this your full-time          There are plenty of fantastic   job?                              Real Estate Agents working         It always surprises me how many       today. Unfortunately, the      people are willing to let their       incompetent Agents really stand    office mate down the hall handle      out. (Did you hear about the       the purchase or sale of their         Agent who contracted the wrong     home. You need someone who            house?) Make sure that you find    handles real estate transactions      your Agent through a trusted       full-time, day in and day out, to     source, and ask any Agent these    make sure that your best              important questions.               interests are taken care of.                                          About the Author: Eric Bramlett currently manages his Austin Real Estate Guide, his his Austin Texas Real Estate company’s website, & his Downtown Austin Loft Guide. Read more articles by: Eric Bramlett Article Source: www.iSnare.com