Real Estate Agents

Purchasing a home for many people is an important step in their life, and having the right questions to ask the real estate agent is a necessity in making sure you have the right services. You need to decide if the person that is working for you, falls into the category of a good agent. You can decide this based on the following answers to these questions they give you:

Do you have a license, under the Estate Agency Affairs Board?

By having a valid license, they are a member of the Estate Agency Affairs Board, which means that your agent has passed the government’s Board Exam and they are committed to following a professional code of ethics. You need to see their membership card to make sure they are telling the truth, and don’t just their word for it. In addition, you need to continue your digging and verify with the Estate Agency Board of what their status is and if they have any records of mis-behaving. The board will be able to help you with any form of disputes, you may have with their members.

What experience do you have in this target area?

An agent that has a familiarity with the neighborhood, and with the market you have an interest in will be able to help you more so, than one that is new to the area. Having information on the area is important, as they can pass on the right amount of information on to the clients, and give them the right details. Someone that is new to the area, will most likely not be up to date with the listed properties or any other agents that are in the neighborhood. Likewise with, the values and prices of the other houses in the area, or any types of issues in the neighborhood.

How many properties have you sold in the past year?

If your agent hasn’t sold any homes within the last year, you probably should look for a different agent. You don’t really want someone that is new, and doesn’t have much experience in that target area. Ask for what properties they may have sold, and see if you can get a list of references for the service they have provided to them.

What is the commission that you are willing to make?

Having an understanding on what the agent earns in commission will help you evaluate how eager the agent will be in selling your property. It is necessary that items, like commission is discussed, before discussing the issues of buying or selling your home. The commission of the agent can be negotiated before you start working with them.

Why should I chose you instead of someone else?

Just because the agent has the eagerness to want to work with you, that shouldn’t be the only thing to consider. Knowledge and experience is the key, in what you should be looking for, more than anything else. A real estate agent that is familiar with the area, and made some sales will have a good record with its clients.