recommendations from friends and colleagues are often helpful. If someone outside the real estate business with nothing to gain is bringing up a broker, you are likely onto a winner. The best brokers — the top 10%- account for 80% of all business. Who has the most listings in your area? A first meeting does not need to be formal and can be noncommittal. Through conversation, you will learn a lot about the agent. This will also allow you to observe how the agents treat their clients. Through the informal interview, you will have the chance to ask about each agent’s selling record, how well he understands the local market, and how the agent can help you sell your house. You want someone with enthusiasm and drive, someone who will give you the attention you need and steer you through the whole process with courtesy and professionalism. These are appropriate topics to be discussed before making a real estate agent selection:
HOW MANY TRANSACTIONS DOES THE AGENT HANDLE PER YEAR? ER YEAR?
This is intended to give you an idea of how quickly the agent can secure a deal. A competent agent who has some experience in the field of real estate should have a respectable number of sales under his belt. However, do not rate the agent simply according to the transactions per year, as you should also note that more transactions do not necessarily reflect the agent’s capability or compatibility. An agent may have many transactions that left the sellers or buyers deeply unsatisfied.
CAN THE AGENT FULL GENT FULLY EXPLAIN THE SELLING OR BUYING PROCESS?
Any real estate agent should be able to explain the complete process of selling or buying a house. If you notice that the agent does not have a firm grasp on the idea of selling or buying a
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