Home Buyers: Finding and Working With a Real Estate Agent
Individuals looking to purchase a new home do not have to pay for a real estate agent. Real estate agents are paid a portion of the money from the sale of a home. This is why many real estate agents refuse to work with individuals who have not been pre-qualified for a mortgage loan. Many real estate agents develop this rule to prevent themselves from wasting time and loosing money. There may be a few real estate agents who are willing to bend this rule; however, many will not.
Soon after being pre-qualified for a mortgage loan is when most individuals go looking for a real estate agent. Many people use the help of a real estate agent that is well known in the community or that has been recommended by friends or family members. A real estate agent that comes highly recommended might be in high demand and may be unable to assistant new homeowners in their search. If this is the case homeowners are encouraged to ask the real estate agent for any other recommendations.
There are a number of other easy ways to find a quality real estate agent. The phone book is a great way to call real estate agencies. Many real estate agencies have a number of different real estate agents on staff. The majority of most reputable real estate companies will have an online website. Somewhere within the website should be individual web pages that should be devoted to all of the real estate agents on staff at a particular agency. The majority of these mini-biographies contain person and professional information plus a picture. Many home seekers contact the real estate agent that they get the best feeling about.
Individuals not using the services of their own real estate are likely to be assisted by the real estate agent in charge of selling the house that they are interested in. Although this is possible the real estate agent may be trying to get the home sold at whatever the cost instead of acting in the best interest of the new home buyers. Many times a real estate agent working with a couple seeking to buy a home is more willing to show the home in a different light. Real estate agents working for home buyers are more likely to help their clients obtain a home for less than the asking price. These types of real estate agents know what a good recommendation or a returning customer can do for their career and paycheck; therefore, they tend to aim their goals at pleasing their clients.
Depending on the real estate agent or agency in question they often help to handle all legal matters. There are many agents who will set up their clients with a property attorney or a financial advisor during the home buying process. Buying a new home is an exciting and fairly stressful experience. Individuals looks to buy a new home are encouraged to try and reduce their stress by hiring the help of a real estate agent.