How To Work With A Real Estate Agent For The Best Results
If you are a first-time home buyer, chances are you have little to no understanding of how real estate agents work. Ask others and you will hear a lot of myths that have no basis in facts.
The thing is, these agents can make or break your deal. So you need to work with them to get the best results. Here are some rules you should follow to foster a productive working relationship:
Agents are not paid salaries
Most real estate agents do not work on fixed salaries even if they work in a brokerage. Most work on commissions from each sale they complete. So if the agent doesn’t finish a transaction, they don’t get paid. They don’t work for free though so don’t ask an agent to work for you if you plan on cutting them out of a deal.
Remain courteous
Like any working relationship, you should give the agent you hire the same respect they show you. Don’t expect them to drop everything to show you a property when you are free. You may not be their only client after all.
Plus, don’t forget to show up to appointments after you make them or show up late. If you know you cannot make your appointment, inform your agent beforehand. Most likely they might have other clients waiting on them so be considerate with their time. If you cancel too late chances are they may declined to work with you future.
Guard your numbers
As with salaries, never let your agent know how much you are willing to pay for a home beforehand. For best results disclosing too much to an agent before signing the buyer’s agreement can backfire on you. If the listing realtor knows how much you can pay for a property or even the loan you qualified for, they may try to work it against you.
They might even try to sell you a home that is below the amount you can afford without disclosing the actual price. However, an agent who works with integrity will tell you the exact price in the hopes of getting referrals. That is why it is vital that you shop around for real estate agent beforehand. Do your homework before you hone in on one who has enough referrals to their name to be authentic.