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Are you looking for a real estate agent? Then you should consider a few things to ensure your real estate agent is professional and worth your penny. Sometimes, hiring a real estate agent is an easy process but sometimes, it is not because of multiple choices and lack of time for profile verification. In this article, we have mentioned the most important three things to remember when you hire your real estate agent.

Sometimes, people also think about why it is necessary to hire a real estate agent but there are many reasons why you need a real estate agent. That includes –

• Better access/more convenience in the selling/buying process.
• Negotiating is a tricky business but real estate agents are experts in this part.
• Contracts can be hard to handle but it is simple for real estate agents and they can find the flaws within the contracts.

However, in this article, we have listed a few things that need to be considered while hiring to avoid fraud and scams.

1. Always Find Out The Real Estate Agent’s Experience Level And Past Records.

What experience do they have in selling a house? How many houses/properties/parcels did they sell? Try to learn every detail as much as you can from their past records on how many houses/properties/parcels they sold.

Always avoid surprises, especially for first-time buyers. The most important thing to remember about your agent is that you must know their strategy beforehand and you must not be surprised because their decisions are serious enough to make a big change in your life.

Always ask for references from previous customers whom the agent has helped or worked for and ask for details about them. It’s better to check within your community, like friends and family for feedback before hiring a real estate agent.

2. Get An Idea Of What They Specialize In.

What special services do they provide? It is important to know about their expertise and services because like as we mentioned before, these special details/details will determine how serious their strategies are.

So, try hiring a real estate agent with a proven track record of success and one who has proven experience in the property/house you intend to buy/sell. A proven track record means that the agent who is going to help you sell or buy your house must have a strong track record, a good reputation, and must be experienced enough to know his work well.

It is important that you, as the client, believe in their abilities because they know what they are doing.

3. Find Out If They Are Able To Offer You A Flat Fee Upfront Or Charge Based On Commission.

Different types of services usually involve different arrangements. Real estate agents who work within the same property can charge differently. For instance, an agent who helps you sell your house may charge his fee upfront. If he is just a service broker and doesn’t help in selling your house, he may charge you on a commission basis depending on the value of your property and how much time is required to close out the deal.

In some cases, you may find an agent who charges a flat fee upfront or based on commission or fee structure.

In wrap, to help you decide on the type of real estate agent you are looking for, learn how they charge and how they work before making your final decision. When looking for a real estate agent, always avoid surprises as much as possible and do not rush things, especially when it comes to the first-time buyer or seller who is just starting out. You only want an agent who has a proven track record and has done different types of transactions before.

To help you distinguish the frauds in the hiring process here are some of the most common things to do:

• Always go for a reputable and accredited real estate agency or broker

If you want to be sure that your rights are protected at all times, always make sure that the agent who will eventually help you buy or sell your house is a member of a reputable accrediting body.

• Ask about their commission and fees

The real estate agent’s fee is a very important part of the real estate transaction. It is that part that you need to pay for their service. A professional real estate agent is very clear from the beginning about their charges, so make sure to agree on the fee structure before hiring.

• Interview 3+ real estate agents

Make sure to interview more than 3 real estate agents to understand their process, contract terms, fee options, etc. To guarantee you choose the ideal candidate, this process is necessary. Also, make a list of questions if you have any about the entire home selling/buying process to ensure they can meet your desired outcomes.

• Know how many deals have they made this year

You should inquire about the number of deals a real estate agent has completed this year when evaluating their level of experience. The number doesn’t matter but the experience and the type of deal they made matter here.

• Check whether they are familiar with your area or not

Ultimately, you want an agent that is familiar with the area so that you can immediately get responses to some key inquiries. For example, if you want to buy a house in Washington, if the real estate agent has a good knowledge of that area, it would be great to find the advantages/flaws immediately.

Conclusion

Whether it’s your first time or nth time and either for selling your house or buying a house, before hiring a real estate agent you must remember the major things mentioned above. All these can help you cover all other minor things and let you find the best real estate agent for your real estate needs.

If you are looking to hire a real estate agent in Washington, contact us to get the right one for all your needs! We serve in and around Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Monroe, and surrounding areas of Washington.