Finding A Capable Agent To Meet Your Real Estate Needs

Whether you're a first-time buyer, selling your current home or relocating to a different part of the country, the support of a qualified, knowledgeable real estate agent can alleviate many of your concerns and ensure a smooth transaction. A professional agent can market your present residence, help you locate the home of your dreams and assist in making your transfer to an unfamiliar area easier.

To find a trained sales associate or broker, you may need to look no further than your own neighborhood or home town. If a well-established brokerage is involved in many listings and sale, this is a god sign. Speak with some of the agent's past customers about the quality and integrity of service and performance. Successful real estate agents rely heavily on customer referrals and will therefore strive to provide the very best in customer service and satisfaction.

Set up appointments to "interview" agents and brokers much like an employer world interview a prospective employee. Inquire about their training, marketing programs and specific service policies. Also determine how many years of experience they have, the number of listings they have had, and the number of homes they have sold within the past few years. More importantly, find out how well they know the area. Ask for references, and check them out.

Your goal is to determine just how knowledgeable the agents are. Question them on financing, closing costs and/or local market conditions, depending on whether you're a prospective home buyer or seller, to determine their expertise. If they know their stuff, they should be able to answer your questions effortlessly.

If you're selling your home, learn what they will do if you decide to list with them. How do they plan to market your home? Will they provide you with a market analysis to help you determine the most effective listing price for your property? Will they supply regular progress reports and assist with negotiations once you've received offers?

If you are relocating to a different part of the country, is your agent connected with a national relocation service that will not only expose your present property to incoming transferees, but assist with your search for a new house?

Ask for a written guarantee that everything promised will be delivered. The CENTURY 21® organization, for example, backs its listings with the CENTURY 21 Seller Service Pledge. This 11-point written commitment covers everything from furnishing the seller with a marketing plan to monitoring pre-settlement activities throughout the closing process. It also gives the seller the right to terminate the listing if the pledge is not fulfilled.

A qualified real estate agent should be able to answer all your questions and provide you with qualify service that is courteous and responsible. Finding the right person may take time and patience, buy when purchasing or selling a home, the selection of a dependable agent should be tops on your list.

About The Author

W. Troy Swezey is the author of "FINDING A CAPABLE AGENT TO MEET YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS." As a Realtor at Century 21 Paul & Associates, he has helped many individuals with their real estate needs. Visit his web site to download his free e-book, "REAL ESTATE SECRETS EXPOSED." http://www.TroyIsMyRealtor.com or mail to: TroyC21@usa.net

---

Should I Invest in Real Estate While Running an Internet Business?

Of course you should. I practice this for quite a... Read More

A Crash Course On The Payout Options Available To You When Selling A Mortgage Note

Okay, let's take a look at the typical payout options:Full... Read More

NAR® Broker Will Swear It ? Real Pro? Agents Share It ? FSBO Truth

For posting the "Truth" on your website, some FSBO's will... Read More

How to Show & Sell Your California Home

Seller's Showing Instructions1. When the agent arrives with the potential... Read More

Home Warranties: Are They Too Good To Be True?

What is a 'Home Warranty?'A home warranty is like an... Read More

The Professional Investors Plan

The art of using high-leveraged activities.Here I would like to... Read More

Selling Your Own Home: 10 More Tips

Selling your own home can be a time-consuming and frustrating... Read More

Real Estate Development Marketing

A Specialist Article For Those Interested In Real Estate Development... Read More

Sell Houses Fast & Top Dollar: Design Psychology

How would you like to start a bidding war for... Read More

Directionals Move Properties

One of the most effective and frequently overlooked methods of... Read More

What to Look Out For When Buying Off Plan

Buying Off PlanIt can be difficult to decide when every... Read More

Buying a Home in Westminster

The city of Westminster is centrally located in the Denver... Read More

Selling Houses Fast: Basics of Design & Color Psychology

Fixing up houses to ready them for sale includes a... Read More

Real Estate Investing - The Dream House Effect

Several years ago I developed a philosophy in renovating houses... Read More

Evil Gains Entry

When we open our doors to strangers, we can never... Read More

Farm Expired Listings For Big Commissions

Many real estate agents begin and sometimes sadly end their... Read More

Probate & Obituary Marketing

I start my marketing with obituaries followed with probate filings... Read More

How to Sell Your Own Home and Save Thousands of Dollars

Most people take the easy way out when selling their... Read More

Hey Landlord! Is Your Lease Legal?

The longer you are a landlord the more you strive... Read More

Investing In Real Estate Investors

With the never-ending changes in our Real Estate Markets real... Read More

Be A Realtor With Curb Appeal

Are you a realtor with curb appeal or are you... Read More

Investment Real Estate: An Inexpensive Way To Get Started

If you are considering getting involved in investment real estate,... Read More

Give Your Home A Timeless Feel

In the world of real estate, there is a huge... Read More

Are Signs Important?

Signage, though quite fundamental in nature, plays an important role... Read More

Youre Not Paranoid: The House Really Hates You

If you've just bought a house, you may be able... Read More

Negotiating the Real Estate Contract

Negotiation is the process of communication back and forth in... Read More

The Art & Science of Property Valuation -- Automated Valuation Models

It is no secret that sellers want to sell high... Read More

Peace of Mind for Home Inspections: Choose the Right Inspector!

As sure as the spring flows at The Fountain of... Read More

Interior Design Secrets for Selling Houses

New concepts in Interior Design Psychology are helping home sellers... Read More

Real Estate Research By Talking

Real estate research might start with a look at the... Read More

Creative Real Estate Investing

With a job that paid $3.40 an hour, I saved... Read More

3 Mistakes to Absolutely Avoid in a 1031/TIC Exchange

We've all made bad decisions in the past. Don't you... Read More

Investment Real Estate Secret: Buy a House Today, With No Money Down

If you've read my article "Purchasing Property With No Money... Read More