3 General Things to Know Before Hiring a Real Estate Agent
Buying
Buying a house is a long, involved process with lots of steps. You’re absolutely fine if you know little to nothing about it, especially if you’ve never purchased a home before.
However, you’ll also save yourself and your realtor headaches and time if you know a few key details before diving into this territory.
Get knowledgeable about a couple of key facts, and remember to rely on your real estate agent if you have additional questions – it’s their job to guide you!
What You Should Understand Before Hiring a Real Estate Agent
Prior to hiring a real estate agent, this is the base amount of information you should know.
1. Understand Your Price Range and What You Can Afford
One of the most important factors in the house-buying process is thoroughly understanding what you can (and can’t) afford. This is information your realtor will use to find prospective listings to show you, so if you don’t do the necessary homework, you’ll waste time on houses you can’t buy.
Similarly, understanding your price range will help keep your expectations realistic. If you ask your realtor to find you a listing that doesn’t exist because you want too much for too little money, you’re setting them up to fail. This sets you up to fail, too.
2. Know You Won’t Look at Hundreds of Properties
If your agent does their job right, you shouldn’t have to look at a lot of properties. They will be able to narrow down the field and find you listings that fit your specifications and budget. Don’t feel like you have to look at dozens of houses before you can make a decision, either. Sometimes house number one is the one, and that’s ideal!
3. Understand All Communication Needs to Go Through Your Agent
There are rules for conduct and etiquette when buying a home. For one, you’re not supposed to speak to the sellers directly. Instead, your agent and the seller’s agent will do all the communicating.
If you break the implied rules and contact either the seller or their agent directly, it’s not smart. Why? Because it implies that you don’t trust your own agent to do their job.
Hiring an Agent Is an Important Step in the House-Buying Process
As you can see, finding the right real estate agent is essential for your success in the market. If you want to find a home you love that’s in your budget, you need someone you can trust to find it for you. Plus, you have to be able to trust them all your communication in the deal.
In short, take the time to find the right agent who will do their best to represent your interests. Use referrals, look online for ratings, and check their background. You’ll be glad you did.
