Buying & Selling Your Home
One of the fi rst steps in buying or selling a home is choosing a real estate agent, Realtor or buyer’s agent.
Both a real estate agent and a Realtor are licensed, but a Realtor also belongs to the National Association of Realtors. In most real estate transactions, even if the purchaser works closely with a Realtor or real estate agent, the agent is actually putting the interests of the seller first. A buyer’s agent, however, works solely for the purchaser. They must put the buyer’s interests first, keeping his concerns in the forefront. If you do choose the representation of a buyer’s agent, you must execute a buyer’s agency contract.
Regardless of the type of agent selected, someone must pay for this expertise. According to the professionals, the seller pays the commissions of both the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent. These fees are simply built into the list price of the home.
The real estate professionals we talked to also urge prospective clients to interview more than one person for the job. “Get a sense of how they work,” a local Realtor explains. Obtain references, both from their clients and from among your own family and friends.
In addition, ask how long the agent has been in the business. Ask to see the documents you are required to sign ahead of time and about his or her ethical philosophy. An expert reveals that Wisconsin is one of the best places to buy a home because real estate licensees have a high level of accountability.
If you are selling your home, make sure to hire an agent
that possesses three things: honesty, integrity, and a strong
marketing plan for your house. They will know the inner workings of selling your home, including contracts and identifying qualified buyers, and will also have access to a large pool of potential buyers.
For the agent’s fee, you may get information about moving and financing, the benefit
of presence on the internet, and Multiple Listing Service (MLS), and you’ll have the
expertise of other Realtors who work with your agent. There’s also a certain amount of
credibility once that real estate sign goes up in your yard, particularly with potential out-of-
town purchasers.
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