Questions to Ask a Realtor® When Buying a Home
- The Swan Team
- Apr 16, 2018
- 5 min read
If you plan to buy a home in 2018, watch this first!
What are your goals for 2018? Do they involve buying a home? If they do, then we want you to be successful! That’s why we are sharing questions to ask a Realtor® when buying a home.
If you plan to buy a home in 2018, then read this first. It's important to understand that the process of buying a home starts long before you go house-hunting. Your dream home is your most important investment. It matters who you work with and how your Realtor® answers your questions when buying a home.
Interviewing a Real Estate Agent
If you are planning on buying a home in the next three to six months, now is the time to interview a real estate agent. If you are planning on buying a home sooner, then know that we are in the midst of a seller's market. The sooner that you can find a realtor you can trust the better.
Ready to buy a home, but don't know where to start?
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It’s our job to make sure you understand every aspect of the real estate transaction. It may be a seller’s market in Orange County right, but a Realtor® with the right answers to your questions helps you buy a home faster. Working with right real estate agent can be the difference between putting a home under contract and not having your offer accepted.
Questions to Ask a Realtor When Buying a Home
How will you search for my new home?
In this day and age, most buyers can see up-to-date properties available on websites like Realtor.com and Redfin. So, how can a buyer’s agent really help you when it comes to finding the right property? It’s simple – a good Realtor® has the access, experience, and know-how to provide you with information and property options that aren’t available on MLS or online. The perfect home for you could be a “pocket” listing, a property that is falling out of escrow, or an upcoming listing of their own or a colleague at their brokerage. The Realtor® you choose to work with will look for these hidden, unadvertised listings in addition to those listed on MLS.
How familiar are you with the area in which I am looking to buy?
It can help to know whether the agent is familiar with a specific territory. Ask agents whether they’re familiar with the area you want to move to. Even if it isn’t the area a Realtor® works in most often, they should be able to get up to speed quickly by reviewing comparable sales, active and pending properties.
How do you handle multiple offers?
This can be a good question to ask to understand what a Realtor® will do to make your offer stand out from the rest and get accepted. In today’s housing market, with low inventory and high demand, how a Realtor® handles multiple offers is more important than ever.
How often will we be in touch?
Just like any relationship, communication with your agent is essential. Ask the agent what their preferred method of communication is – whether it’s phone, text, or email. Ultimately, an agent should really be asking you what your preferred method of communication is. After all, you are the client.
You may also want to find out how often you’ll hear from the agent and how long they’ll take to reply. If your expectations for communication are set from the very start of the process, you’ll prevent issues down the road. Not to mention, if your search parameters are very specific and hard to come by, your Realtor® should at least touch base with you to let you know he/she hasn’t forgotten about you. Your search is still very important, but opportunities haven’t presented themselves yet.
How much do you charge?
As a buyer, I feel like this is an important question to ask the Realtor® you will potentially be working with. You’d be surprised at how many buyer agents might say something like, “I won’t charge you anything to help you find a house,” as if they are doing you a favor. Be wary of any agent that says that to you.
As the buyer, unless you’ve offered to compensate them yourself, your agent will usually receive their commission through the listing broker. In other words, the seller pays the seller and the buyer agent’s commissions, and you as the buyer shouldn’t pay any commissions.
How many clients are you currently representing?
This is a good question to ask just to understand how much time the Realtor® will be able to devote to you and your search. Do you want to feel like a number or like his/her only client? The number of clients a Realtor® can work with effectively at a time is dependent upon the systems he/she has in place. Keep in mind – a good Realtor® will make each client feel like they are important. If you don’t feel that way, it might be time to find a new agent to represent you.
Do you have a team?
Some agents work on teams where different team members handle different parts of the home search and closing process. You may want to know how many different people you will work with and how to best communicate with the various team members.
Could you share some references?
It never hurts to ask an agent for references. People who have actually worked with the realtor are the absolute best source of information when it comes to finding an agent who fits your needs. If the agent is comfortable with it, contacting references and asking them questions will help you get an idea of what exactly you’re signing up for.
Previous clients may also be able to explain how the agent handled any challenges in their transaction, which will help you understand how they might overcome the hurdles that will come up in yours.
Love Where You Live, Give Where You Love
We understand that your home is your dream come true. As homeowners, we realize that purchasing a home is probably the most important transaction you will manage. As neighbors, we get that buying a home is perhaps the biggest transition your family will make.
You deserve to love where you live, give where you love, AND when the time comes….buy a home for the right price with the right Realtor®!
If you need help preparing to buy a home in 2018 – to schedule a FREE Buyer Consultation – Contact Us Now!
The Swan Team | OC Real Estate
Love Where You Live | Give Where You Love
“We donate $500 to the school of your choice for every property you buy or sell!”
