QUESTIONS TO ASK ANY AGENT
What kind of experiences do you have? Agents come from all walks of life. Look for someone who has the right mix of personal and professional experiences. Agents who personally buy and sell real estate and who recently have been through the process themselves are likely to be very familiar with the process. You're also going to want to know how many transactions an agent and their collaborative team put together in this past year. You want someone who can get the job done despite challenges in loan underwriting, inspections, and appraisals.
What is your procedure for assisting a buyer from beginning to closing? Make sure that the agent can explain for you that explains exactly how they work and how they represent only you and your best interests.
What is your experience with financing alternatives, and what might they be in my situation? Each buyer's situation is different. We can literally put you in a much better financial situation with the same monthly payments simply by adjusting the financing.
How do you determine my qualifications and when? You would be shocked at how rare it is for an agent to complete your qualifications right away. Even so, it is important to have this done early in the process. This way you are ready to make a strong offer at a moment's notice, increasing your chances for not only finding, but buying the home of your dreams.
How do you provide me with information on new homes for sale? Your agent should have a system that automatically updates you when new homes meeting your criteria come on the market. Feel free to let your agent know if you prefer email or phone calls. Sometimes, finding out about a property even a day later can take you out of the market. At Green Light Real Estate, our responsive "Collaboration Center" does just that, plus it's an easy site to navigate.
What is your negotiating philosophy, and how do you apply it to me? This is important. Play close attention to how many transactions the agent and their team does each year. More is better. The more transactions the agent closes, the more experience they have in negotiating just about every situation that could come up.
How do you find the best value for me? How do you make sure it is a good value? This is important because the agent should have some immediate and concise answers as to how they accomplish this for you. They should have systems in place and be able to explain them to you.
Can you sell us a new, resale or foreclosed home? Most agents will answer affirmatively, but you should follow up with questions about specific builders and areas.
There are many more questions to ask, this is just a sampling. Do you have a specific question you would like answered? Let us know by clicking here!