Why Hire an Agent?

Do they really help?

For the homebuyer, knowledge of the housing market is the most critical asset an agent brings to the table. It saves you time visiting houses that don't meet your criteria or price range, or missing ones that do.

For the home seller, using an agent saves you a lot of time understanding all your legal obligations as a seller, and doing all the work of marketing your home for the best price.

The Agent:
Your antidote to anxiety!

So, are you ready to hire an agent? If so, how do you find the right one? That's why we offer this Mini Course, to cut through the confusion!

Let's look at home buying first, and what an agent can do for you. Then we'll get to the important part: how to pick the right agent!

Home Buyers (and Sellers) Read On!

We suggest everyone read this section. But sellers can JUMP to How to Hire a Seller's Agent if they are confident they already have the buying side mastered.

Some Basic Buying Steps

Do you know your buying steps?

Step 1: Know who they are and what they offer.

What are some of the services an experienced agent can provide a homebuyer? An agent should be able to answer these questions:

• WHERE are the homes and neighborhoods that provide what you or your family is looking for, i.e., high quality schools, accessible shopping, recreation, or safety?
  
  
• WILL the property have strong resale value when you're ready to sell? 

A knowledgeable agent knows exactly what's in your price range and where to find it.

Multiple Answers to Multiple Questions
That�s what you need.

Agents also have access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), a searchable database of residential properties in your region. Just plug in any feature: number of bedrooms or baths, etc., at a certain price in a particular neighborhood, and the MLS generates all the homes for sale with those features in your price range, perhaps not listed in the real estate section of your newspaper

You Need...
The Right answers, that is.

An agent helps you to find the right home at the right price in the right neighborhood, a valuable service for busy people.

Convinced?

So you're convinced you need an experienced agent or broker. The next question is how do you find a good one?

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