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Find A Real Estate Agent

Section 5 - Chapter 25 (continuation)

A buyers agent may be a good idea if you have no home shopping experience. They can educate you and help you in ways other agents can't. For example, they can show you homes that are or sale by owner, or otherwise not in the multiple listing service listings. Of course, they have to get paid somehow, so the offer might have to be higher on that FSBO if the seller will be paying your real estate agent's fee.

You can work with a sellers agent, who will be happy to show you all the homes in the multiple listings, but can't show you other homes (no way to get paid). If you work with just one agent, they can get to know what you are really looking for and be very helpful. Jut remember that they are ultimately working for the seller of whichever home you choose.

You can just work with the listing agent for each property you look at. This can work well if you have a fair amount of knowledge and experience. It is also more comfortable to work with multiple agents if you will be making low offers that will annoy them.

What I like to do is look through the newspaper ads and the real estate magazines, and the online listings. Whenever I see a property that fits my criteria, I make a note of who the agent is. When I find an agent that has several listings of the type I am looking for, I know I have an agent that is more likely to understand my needs, and can be more helpful.

You see, real estate agents will often be knowledgeable about a certain type of real estate, or a certain neighborhood, but know little else. Just like other professionals, they specialize, so when you want to finda particular type of home, or a home in a particular area, look through listings online until you find a real estate agent that already has several of that type listed.

Finally, unless you have signed a contract of some sort obligating you to work with only one agent, don't think you have to be loyal. If an agent keeps showing you homes that are out of the price range you gave him, drop him. If he doesn't seem to know what he is talking about, find a better real estate agent. Don't lose time and money just to be nice.

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