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Buying
Here are some of the questions you may want answers to before you choose an agent to help you buy a home.
How familiar are you with the homes in the neighbourhood where I want to live and the price range I can afford?
No agent can possibly know about every home for sale in every community, but many agents are extremely well informed about specific markets. As a home shopper, you'll want to work with someone who knows which housing tracts are preferred and in what direction prices are heading. A sharp agent who knows the neighbourhood can help you spot the right home when it comes on the market.
What strategies will you use to locate a home for me?
Any agent who relies solely on a physical printed multiple listing service (MLS) book is sadly behind the times. Homes for sale now are posted on electronic MLS systems long before the printed book is distributed. In fact, many MLS systems no longer even print a book. In addition to checking online, your agent should be keeping watch for new For Sale signs and networking with other agents to find a suitable home in your price range. If you sign a buyer-brokerage agreement, some agents will search for a home for you by mailing letters to local homeowners and making telephone calls on your behalf to active agents in the area.
Will you show me homes in new housing developments and homes that are for sale by the owner?
An agent who shows properties that are not in the MLS stands little chance of being compensated for his or her efforts. However, many agents will show you these and other properties not in the MLS, if you sign a buyer-brokerage agreement.
How will you help me get a good price for the home I want to purchase? What strategies do you use in multiple offer situations?
If you're shopping in a hot market, you probably will experience one or more multiple offer situations before you sign a purchase agreement. Ask the agent to tell you how he or she handles multiple offer situations and what tactics have been successful. You might also want to ask whether the agent ever sells their own listings.
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Copyright ©2009 Peter Kunz. All rights reserved. |
Royal LePage Partners Realty is an independently owned and operated brokerage. |
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