A real estate agent can make the difference between a home selling quickly and a home selling slowly. For that reason, I would highly recommend that you do the research BEFORE you hire a real estate agent. The more you go on the internet, the more you can learn and the more you can save. This is a great time to be honest with yourself. And the more you research and understand the process, the more you will be able to negotiate with the seller.
A real estate agent is a salesperson. They have to sell you on your home. So to get my point across, it is essential that you do your research. They are there to sell you, not to fix your home. Before signing on with them, be sure to make sure you know who you are dealing with.
Do your research. Make sure you can provide a written contract that clearly describes your ownership rights. If you can’t be legally responsible for your home, it’s not worth doing the work. If you are dealing with an agent at the point of closing, you need to be sure they have a good grasp on the law and know how to negotiate the best price for you.
If you are dealing with an agent at the point of closing, you need to be sure they have a good grasp on the law and know how to negotiate the best price for you.
Although you don’t want to negotiate with agents, the law dictates that you have to provide a written agreement (i.e. “I am the owner of the property”) so that you can be held legally liable and accountable for what happens to your property. This is especially important if you’re going to be renting an apartment, which is often a great way for a first-time homebuyer to get their feet wet with real estate.
I have always been a fan of real estate commission, or “realtors” as we call them here in Canada. It seems to have some pretty good perks in that it will help you get a good price on a house. I remember when I first started looking for a house, in the early days, I would have to go out and talk to three different realtors in my area and get quotes.
This is where the fun really begins. The first two weeks of the lease, you are responsible for paying your realtor a fee. If you show up to the appointment looking like a complete asshole, then you will probably be told to settle for a lower price. If you show up to the appointment looking like you know what you’re doing, then you get the full commission.
The commission is a percentage of the sale price minus the down payment. This is an incentive for people to buy homes, as it helps them sell their home quickly. The up-front fee allows people to get into the house faster, but also gives the seller a little bit of a leg up, because it shows that they actually know what they are doing (as opposed to someone who just shows up, with no idea how to sell a home).
A quick lesson in making sure your home is a good fit for you. Before you make an appointment with a real estate agent, ask yourself if you are just wanting to sell the home and get out of there fast, or if you really want to decorate it with a few more changes, such as painting the kitchen, and what sort of paint you’d like. If your answer is the latter, then you should make the appointment. If it is the former, you should wait.
Real estate agents are people who only want to sell houses. They are not looking for a nice home to have a nice house for Christmas (although that does happen). I see this as a good sign. They might be willing to sell you a duplex, condo, or a town home, but if they are only looking to sell a house, then you are probably not a person who will want to decorate it in the traditional way.