The Role of the Real Estate Agent

How can a real estate agent help you?

When it's time to sell your house, or to buy a new one, a real estate agent will be able to provide you with knowledge and experience that you, as a layman or a casual observer of the market, just won't have. An agent has been helping people buy and sell homes in your market, and will know what price is right. An agent will also have knowledge of where to advertise and how to show a home that only a professional can provide.

A real estate agent's role, quite simply, is to get you the best possible price for your home, or, if you're a buyer, to get you a fair price on your new home. They can also save you a lot of time and effort and are usually worth the commission they will receive.

If you're a home seller, your agent will likely have sold other houses in your neighborhood and will know how to price your home to sell. The market is volatile these days in most parts of the country; the guidance of a real estate agent is more important than ever. Ask your agent what services he or she provides. Generally, he or she will handle all advertising and showing of your home and save you many, many hours of work.

If you are a home buyer and you decide to hire a buyer agent, your agent will narrow down homes by your preferences and price. He or she will also be able to tell you how much the home is worth in the current market. Ask what services your agent provides and for advice on what you can afford.

More Real Estate Tips.

How does a real estate agent market your home?

Arguably, the most important part of selling your home successfully is pricing it correctly for your market. But the second most important part is making sure people who are in the market for a new home see your ads, and that your ads interest them and convince them to investigate further.

Real estate agents are specially trained and have experience marketing homes for sale. There are many avenues real estate agents may take to advertise your home. You should work with your agent to find out how he or she intends to market your home. You can be as involved as you want in the process. Remember, your agent has experience with this, but if you find a new way to advertise, feel free to make suggestions.

• Your agent has access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), the standard listing of new homes. He or she should list your home there, so it is seen by many home buyers and buyer agents.
  
• Check out the Internet. Web sites like www.homesandland.com are well-visited by potential home buyers and you can showcase your home with photos and descriptions.
• Home buyers often pick up magazines or newspapers that list homes for sale. You or your agent can list your home and include photos.
  

More Real Estate Tips.

How does a real estate agent assist in the closing?

Your real estate broker will help in more than just the marketing and listing of your home. When home buyers start showing interest, your broker will help you make the final sale.
According to the National Association of Realtors, a broker will perform the following steps when you start getting offers.

• Your real estate broker will receive and review all offers and will counsel you on the merits and weaknesses of each offer.
• He or she will contact the buyer's agent to review the buyer's qualifications and to discuss the offer.
• The broker will negotiate all offers on your behalf and will set time limits for loan approval and the closing date.
• Your broker will handle all the paperwork associated with closing the sale.
• Your broker will schedule the appraisal and will follow up on the appraisal.
• He or she will also schedule the home inspection.
• The broker will coordinate the final closing process and will handle all the paperwork.
  

More Real Estate Tips.

How do you find a buyers agent?

Buyer agency became the norm in the 1990s, so it's still a fairly new phenomenon. But buyer agents have come a long way and can provide a lot of help to home buyers. There are now associations of buyer agents and more stringent norms regulating how they do business.

• Look for a buyer agent who has experience in your market. Many Web sites offer listings, and you can easily find one who specializes in the type of home for which you're searching.
• Ask the agent about his or her experience. He or she should know how much you should pay for any type of home in your market and should have the experience to protect you.
• Find out what services your buyer agent will provide. According to the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents, the agent should be able to provide you with information about local schools, crime rate and traffic, and should prepare a property value study if you are interested in a certain home.
• Your buyer agent should also be able to help you find the right home loan for your situation.
  

More Real Estate Tips.

How do you find a sellers agent?

So it's time to move. Maybe your job transferred you or maybe it's time to move on up to a bigger home. Either way, you likely want to sell your home for as good a price as possible, and with as little fuss as possible. The home price for sellers who use an agent is 16 percent higher than for those who don't, according to the National Association of Realtors. So it's time to find a REALTOR and there are several ways to do that.

• Real estate agents these days are very Internet savvy. Nearly all real estate companies have Web sites and many of those list their services on comprehensive Web sites like www.homesandland.com, where you can search for agents in your area.
  
• Once you find listings, click on the agents' Web sites and figure out who might specialize in the kind of home you want to buy.
  
• Or, you can start with listings. Look at homes that interest you and contact the agent who represents them. A Web site like www.homesandland.com can help here, as well.
  
• Ask your friends and family. If they've sold a house recently, the might be able to recommend a real estate agent.
• If you're having trouble, ask your local Realtor organization. They should be able to refer you to a real estate agent.

More Real Estate Tips.

What are the steps a real estate agent will take to sell your home?

Selling your home is a complicated process and real estate companies will take many steps to make that happen. You should stay abreast of the process and you should understand the steps. After you and your agent complete the initial process, he or she will complete some of the following steps.
According to the National Association of Realtors, these are several of the steps your agent should take.

• Your agent will enter your property in the Multiple Listing Service database. MLS listings are a key way for people to see your home.
  
• He or she may also advertise your home on Web sites like www.homesandland.com, which allow the agent to publish multiple photos and details descriptions.
  
• Your agent will provide you with a signed copy of the listing agreement and of the MLS profile that is listed.
• He or she will take photos of your home for advertising purposes.
• Your agent will start taking calls from potential buyers and coordinate showings.
• He or she will prepare marketing materials, like fliers showcasing your home, and will mail out materials.
  
• The agent may also schedule open houses to market your home.

More Real Estate Tips.

What are the initial steps to selling a home?

Once you've found your full-service real estate agent, there are a number of steps he or she will take before listing your home for sale.

According to the National Association of Realtors, there are 200 steps an agent takes to sell your home. It's important for you to be familiar with the process. Feel free to ask your real estate agent what he or she is discovering while performing these initial steps.

• The agent will start by making an appointment with you for a listing presentation and will begin researching similar properties on the market.
• The agent will also find out the average number of days a property like yours stays on the market.
  
• He or she will review property tax roll information.
• Those steps will help your agent prepare a "Comparable Market Analysis," a vital document for determining a fair price for your home.
• The agent will also review the exterior of your home to determine "curb appeal," or the appeal of your home from the street. He or she will also review the interior of your home and make suggestions on decor, intended to shorten the amount of time on the market.
  
• He or she will also research information about the public schools in your area to share with potential buyers.
  
• During the listing presentation, you and your agent will discuss how to price your home and market it. He or she will also give you an overview of the current market conditions.
  

More Real Estate Tips.