CONTACT ME FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS:
Dawn Strait REALTOR®
(864)-918-1799
DesignToSell@ymail.com
WORKING WITH A REAL ESTATE AGENT And Why YOU SHOULD USE AN AGENT
The Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
What to know about the MLS, and how does it works for you? The MLS is a database of properties currently on the market in the area. Brokers participating in the MLS which also includes virtually all Brokers in the area, list all the homes they have for sale and agree to share in the sales commission of the properties. This means that if I list your property on the MLS for you, but another agent finds a buyer for your house, that other broker or agent is entitled to part of the (listing)commission. The big advantage to you, as the seller, is that every single broker and agent participating in the MLS has an incentive to sell your home. This effectively puts every agent in the area to work selling your home! The first place a buyers agent looks is always the MLS. There is simply no better way to gain instant and widespread exposure for your home than listing it on the MLS. First thing I'll do as your agent is get your home listed on the MLS. When another agent is searching for a home to meet the needs of a buyer, the agent will search the MLS based on the buyers criteria for price range and features etc.. Such as the size, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and any special features. I'll also take photos of your house and include them with your MLS listing. Agents and buyers alike are always more likely to look at listings with photos.
Question: Are commissions negotiable?
Answer:
By law, real estate commissions are negotiable. The pricing of real estate service varies by level of service and consumer needs. Most agents charge between between 4 and 7 percent for full service and not all offer the option of paying a fee for an individual service.
Question: How do I find a real estate agent?
Answer:
Getting a recommendation from a friend or work colleague is an excellent way to find a good agent. Be sure to ask if they would use the agent again. You also can call the managers of reputable real estate firms and ask them for recommendations of agents who have worked in your neighborhood. In any case, whether you are a buyer or a seller, you should interview at least three agents to give yourself a choice.
A good agent typically works full-time and has several years of experience. If you are a seller, you should expect to review a comparative market analysis, which includes recent home sale prices in your area, when you talk to a prospective agent.
Question: How do you find a good agent?
Answer:
Getting a recommendation from a friend or work colleague is an excellent way to find a good agent, whether you are a buyer or a seller. Be sure to ask if they would use the agent again.
You also can call the managers of reputable real estate firms and ask them for recommendations of agents who have worked in your neighborhood.
A good agent typically works full-time and has several years of experience at minimum.
If you are a buyer, you don't usually pay for your agent's services (in the form of a commission, or percentage of the sales price of the home). All agents in a transaction usually are paid by the seller from the sales proceeds. In many states, this means that your agent legally is acting as a subagent of the seller. But in some states, it's legal for an agent to represent the buyers exclusively in the transaction and be paid a commission by the sellers. You also can hire and pay for your own agent, known as buyer's brokers, whose legal obligation is exclusively to you.
If you are a seller, you should interview at least three agents, all of whom should make a sales presentation including a comparative market analysis of local home prices in your area. The best choice isn't always the agent with the highest asking price for your home. Be sure to evaluate all aspects of the agent's marketing plan and how well you think you can work with the individual.
Question: How many people sell their homes themselves?
Answer:
Most home sellers -- about 4 in 5 -- use real estate agents to list and sell their homes. Of the other 20 percent, some sell FSBO, also known as For Sale By Owner. Other owners, however, sell without marketing their homes. Property transfers between family members account for some of the direct home sales. Also, tenants are often offered the opportunity to buy the property they are renting before the landlord lists it for sale.
Copyright © 2008 Inman News Features
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CONTACT ME FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS:
Dawn Strait REALTOR® (864)-918-1799
DesignToSell@ymail.com