When you are in need of selling or buying a home, a professional realtor is going to be able to save you time and money. It’s a very important decision since buying or selling a home is one of the most serious, important financial decisions in your life. The following are some questions to ask that will help you find a realtor who is right for you and your situation…
Responsibilities of a Real Estate Agent
A real estate agent helps his or her clients purchase, rent, or sell properties. They advise clients about market conditions, conduct walkthroughs, and provide guidance and assistance through the process of buying, selling, or leasing properties, Unsurprisingly, a key skill for someone whose job revolves around working with people is going to be communication. As a prospective client, you might think it is simple enough to search for homes to buy or sell, but it can be very tedious work. A good real estate agent can manage the search for you and stay on top of the listings, schedule viewing, and communicate with the agent representing the opposite side of the sale. A real estate agent also helps a buyer navigate the purchase contract. As a home seller, there are plenty of time-consuming steps and costs required, and your real estate agent’s experience will be invaluable. As a seller, your real estate agent will know how to stage and market your home for sale. As a seller, you will be responsible for paying the buyer’s agent commission so you may as well have your own competent real estate agent.
When to Contact a Real Estate Agent
Usually about three months in advance of wanting to buy or sell a home you should start preparing. Earlier than that is too early because things change quickly in the real estate market
Important Steps When Buying…
- Learn the Mortgage Loan Process – You probably already know that a mortgage is a type of loan that you use to buy a home. It’s a good idea to learn as much as you can about getting a mortgage before you start shopping for a home. Decide on a budget. Understanding the loan process is especially important for first-time homebuyers. You must have roughly 20% for a down payment. You will need a deposit once your bid on a home is accepted, these funds will be applied to the closing cost. Just remember there will be annual property taxes and insurance costs. Most likely you will set up an escrow account as part of your monthly mortgage payment.
- Get Pre-approved For a Loan Well Before You Begin – Ideally, six months to a year before you seek mortgage preapproval or apply for a mortgage it is wise to check your credit report and credit scores to know where you stand. This will give you time to clear up any credit issues that might prevent your credit scores from not being the best. Getting your pre-approval letter from your bank could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. On average, it usually takes less than 10 days. This will give you the price range for your new home search. No sense in looking for homes you cannot afford.
- Make a list of your housing priorities – In addition to knowing the towns and neighbors where you would like to live you need to consider…
- Breaking Down Your Must-Haves
- Be Reasonable With Your Top Priorities
- Focus on Factors That Can’t Easily Change
- Remember Your Price Range
- Talk to a Real Estate Agent
Important Steps when Selling…
- Before Putting Your Home on the Market – There are steps you can take before putting your home on the market to increase your chances of receiving a solid offer from a buyer. From cleaning and staging to repainting and depersonalizing. Having a self-storage unit nearby will give you somewhere to temporarily place all of your extra stuff when staging and showing the home.
- Search for a Real Estate Agent – Start interviewing candidates while you are getting the home ready for the market. Don’t just pick someone who sent you a postcard. Ask friends, family, and business associates for recommendations and that start research agent reviews. Once you find someone you feel comfortable and confident with, you can sign a listing agreement and start working out a marketing plan.Discuss any additional fixes or remodeling work the agent believes will pay off.
What You Should Know About Hiring a Real Estate Agent
You’ll want to find an agent who…
- Knows your neighborhood
- Has a good working knowledge of schools, roads, shopping, swim and tennis clubs, and other local amenities.
- Can provide a strong online marketing impression since most people shop for homes virtually before they ever visit a property for sale.
When you inteview agents, find out if they are willing to dedicate enough time for your needs. Are you willing to deal with an agency team or do you want to work with an individual agent. When you finally decide upon an agent, most agreement will last from two to six months with commissions around 5 or 6%. If you are getting ready to sell, a listing agent can help you figure out the best price for your home, prepare it for the market, advertise it, field offers and close the deal.
A buyers agent will help you consider the options available and make sure you are positiioned to submit the winning bid. The agent you decide to work with will be your partner during a financially significant and stressful part of your life.
Contact us (859) 979-1508) for a free consultation!
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About The Real Estate Company
Residential and Multi-family Realty Services for Lexington, Richmond, and Surrounding Areas. We close over 40 million in sales each year. Our love for Central Kentucky and our clients is the key to our success. We provide careful guidance, persistence, and savvy marketing to deliver results for our clients time after time.
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