• An agent that agrees with every crazy thing you suggest. A good real estate agent should be professional, tactful, and gently steer you in the right direction. • Believing all real estate agents know the same things. Remember, do your research! Not all agents are equal in terms of their knowledge, specialties, and education. • Choosing to work with a family member as your real estate agent. • Hiring the first real estate agent you interview or the first real estate agent with an impressive presentation. • Picking an agent who promises to keep your house as an “open home” for a long time. • Choosing an agent based exclusively on the number of houses sold in the past year or just because they conveniently suggest the highest price for your sale.
HIRING A REAL ESTATE AGENT: MAKING IT OFFICIAL
So, you’ve found the perfect Realtor® for you, but now you need to make it official. Before signing anything, read these tips. Any professional agent will give you the chance to review the documents you must sign a day before. Be sure to ask up front! For example, as a seller, you need to look over the Agency Representation Disclosure, the Right-to-Sell Agreement, and the Seller Property Disclosure. Your agent should also be able to supply you with a written list of referring vendors, such as mortgage brokers, home inspectors, and title companies. That should help speed up the process. If you see the word “affiliated” anywhere, ask for details because there might imply the existence of some extra costs. All fees are negotiable. The commission percentage may differ from one 31
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